We Fought NJ Transit For Dead Nephew’s Belongings, Uncle Says

SHORT HILLS, NJ — The family of the late Tommy Ryan recently experienced a bittersweet victory when a New Jersey Assembly committee unanimously voted to advance a bill named in the 27-year-old’s honor after he was killed by a NJ Transit train two years ago.

If it becomes state law, the bill, A-3904, also known as “Tommy’s Law,” would require NJ Transit to return the personal belongings of people killed in incidents involving the agency’s buses, trains or light rail cars. It would also "designate an employee within the New Jersey Transit Police Department to serve as a liaison between NJ Transit and the New Jersey Transit Police Department, and a person injured or a member of a person’s immediate family if the person was killed as a result of an incident involving a motorbus or rail or light rail vehicle operated by or under contract with NJ Transit."

The legislation – which has cleared committee last week – is now poised for review by the full Assembly. An identical bill was advanced past committee in the Senate in April.

A spokesperson for NJ Transit declined to comment about the bill, but offered the following statement about the agency’s general policies:

“When given the difficult task of notifying a family member of the loss of a loved one, New Jersey Transit police detectives and officers do so with compassion, empathy and respect. These officers then serve as a point of contact for the next of kin regarding the investigation and availability of further information.”

Ryan was killed in June 2016 after he walked under the gate and crossed over the tracks while a NJ Transit train was traveling toward the Main Street station in Ramsey, authorities previously said.

Jamie Ryan of Short Hills recently spoke about the tragic death of his nephew before an Assembly committee, exhorting them to advance the bill in the name of public safety. (Read an excerpt of his testimony below)

“My emotions were focused on my nephew, my brother and making sure no other family is treated the way we were,” Ryan told Patch about the June 14 appearance. “I was strongly focused on the fact that NJ Transit needs to change and that the state of New Jersey is better than this.”

• See related article: Looking At Montclair's Railroad Gates (Patch Exclusive)

TOMMY’S UNCLE: HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY

An excerpt of Ryan’s testimony to the NJ legislature follows below:

“My name is Jamie Ryan and my 27-year-old nephew Tommy Ryan was struck and killed by a NJ Transit train on June 9, 2016. Tommy was killed by a train traveling at a speed of 70 mph at the oldest and deadliest train station in New Jersey. I am here representing my brother and our family.

“Tommy leaves behind a six-year-old son and grieving family. I would like to explain what happened to Tommy and our family.

“Tommy was living in Ramsey and was a Seton Hall University graduate. He was traveling into New York City from the Ramsey Main Street Station to provide for his family. The Ramsey Main Street station as I stated earlier was opened in 1868. There is no pedestrian walkway above or below the tracks. The residents walk around the gates when their train arrives to get to the other side of the tracks. Tommy made this fatal mistake that morning.

“Tommy parked at the municipal parking lot and saw that his train to New York City had arrived. Like many residents, Tommy went around the train gate to catch his train. At the same exact moment, a NJ Transit train traveling at a speed of 70 mph came in the opposite direction and struck and killed him.

“Tommy’s law calls for NJ Transit police or someone at NJ Transit to act as a liaison between the family of someone killed by a train/rail or bus. And for this person to make sure they treat the family with care and sensitivity. It also calls for NJ Transit to return the loved one’s belongings in a timely manner.

“Unfortunately, this did not happen for my family.

“On June 9, 2016, I received a phone call at work from Tommy’s aunt notifying me that our mutual nephew had been killed by a NJ Transit train and I was asked to call my brother to tell him that his oldest son was killed. Certainly, the most difficult conversation I have ever had. I then met my brother at the Bergen County Medical Examiner’s office to identify his son’s body.

“We all wanted answers and support. NJ Transit would not give us any details and the only statement was that my nephew was a ‘trespasser.’”

“The detectives would not return calls from my brother or sister in law. On one occasion when a family member called the NJ Transit police, the female dispatcher said, he was hit by a train, what else do you want to know? And told her that she had more pressing things to take care for such as a homicide.

“My younger brother is a police officer and arranged for me to pick up my nephew’s belongings from the detectives. I was first told to meet the detective at NJ Transit in Maplewood. I arrived still numb and in shock and was told by the front desk that the detective was not in. Then I was told the following week to meet the detective in Newark at NJ Transit HQ.

“The detective met me in the lobby and handed me a paper bag. I explained that my brother was on the job and asked if I could speak with him privately. He and another detective were nice but handed me only half my nephew’s belongings back. This was a couple of days before Father’s Day.

“Then we could not get the detectives to return our calls to get the rest of his belongings back. I ultimately wrote to Gov. Christie and he had me meet with his chief of staff, Amy Cradic. I presented to Amy the dangerous situation at the station and gave her proposed solutions. I also asked for her help in getting back my nephew’s belongings. Amy arranged for me to meet two days later with NJ Transit executives and I presented to them as well. I also requested that my nephew’s belongings be given back to us.

“It took for me to meet in the governor’s office in Trenton and with NJ Transit executives in Newark for my family to get my nephews belongings back. It should not have come to this. We were treated horribly by NJ Transit and there was zero compassion or care.

“The goal of this bill is to make sure no other family endures this kind of treatment. Ultimately, I feel and know that the state of NJ is better than this. I also believe that there would be less litigation against the agency if they were to treat families correctly.”

Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photos courtesy of Jamie Ryan