Train Collides With Long Branch Police Car, Causes Delays

LONG BRANCH, NJ — A NJ Transit train collided with a Long Branch police car Monday morning. The Long Branch police vehicle was stopped on the tracks when the train struck it on the track at the Brighton Avenue grade crossing, an NJ Transit spokesperson said.

Trains on the North Jersey Coast Line were delayed up to 30 minutes in both directions, NJ Transit announced. Nobody was injured, including the officer or the 110 customers and crew on the train.

The car got on the tracks after an officer arrived to assist on a motor vehicle stop on Brighton Avenue. When he left the vehicle to assist the primary officer, the car rolled forward, unnoticed, Chief Jason Roebuck said.

The officer reported after the fact that he had trouble getting it to park but felt he did before he exited. The car rolled down a small grass embankment as it came to a stop with the front end slightly extended onto the tracks, Roebuck said.

The intersection of Brighton Avenue and the railroad was cleared as of 12:40 p.m. 511NY said NJ Transit experienced switch issues.

Train 4340 was departing Bay Head and was scheduled to arrive in Long Branch at 10:49 a.m. Customers on the train were accommodated on a following train.

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