Oradell Rider Describes Train Crash: 'Things Are Falling All Around Us' [video]

ORADELL, N.J. — A borough resident in the NJ Transit train that crashed in Hoboken Monday said that things were "falling all around us," when the crash occurred, according to a report.

Mike Scelzo was in the first car of the train, Newsday reported.

"We knew something bad happened," Scelzo said in the report, "but you don’t realize how bad it was until all of sudden it’s like we’re still moving and things are falling all around us."

Gov. Chris Christie and New Jersey lawmakers confirmed that at least one person died in the crash, and 108 people were injured.

During a press conference Thursday afternoon, Christie called the accident an "extraordinary tragedy," but he declined to speculate on a cause and couldn't say when the station would reopen.

Christie said the train "came in at a higher rate of speed than it should have," and that he was not sure why. He said the Office of the Attorney General is investigating the crash.

"We have nothing to believe other than this was a tragic accident," Christie said.

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The train engineer — who was in critical condition Thursday afternoon — "is fully cooperating," the governor said.

Rail service was suspended in and out of Hoboken, NJ Transit reported.

Staff writer Tom Davis contributed to this article.

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Photos courtesy of John Tachine