The Latest on the Pascack Valley Train Crash: Rockland Offers Resources to Affected Residents

NEW CITY, NY — Rockland is making resources available to residents who have been affected by Thursday's NJTransit train crash in Hoboken, County Executive Ed Day announced.

The Pascack Valley Line train that crashed at the Hoboken terminal Thursday morning originated at 7:23 a.m. in Spring Valley and also stopped in Nanuet and Pearl River. One person was killed, and more than 100 people were injured.

Rockland has set up an emergency number which will be available 24/7 to provide counseling services to individuals and families affected by the train crash. The number is845-517-0400.

Trained staff from Rockland County Department of Mental Health, Rockland Paramedics Behavioral Response Team and the Rockland County Department of Social Services will be available.

VCS also has staff available to provide counseling services. The agency can be reached at 845-634-5729.

There will be a Drop in Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday located at Rockland Paramedic Services, 540 Chestnut Ridge Road, Chestnut Ridge, N.Y.

Rockland officials did not have information about the number of county residents injured yesterday.

“We know many people have been injured, at least one fatally,” Day said. “We don’t know where they are from. Our prayers are with them and their families.”

The victim has been identified by authorities as Fabiola Bittar de Kroon, 34, of Hoboken. She was hit by flying debris when the four-car commuter train barreled through barriers and became momentarily airborne, bringing down the ceiling and a support beam in the century-old station.

The engineer has been identified as 48-year-old Thomas Gallagher.

For commuters, Rockland County's TAPPAN ZEExpress bus service will be honoring all NJ Transit rail tickets until further notice.

NJTransit is operating the Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines on a weekend schedule, originating and ending in Secaucus.

The MTA recommends these alternatives:

Bus Service Options
MTA Metro-North is providing a limited shuttle bus service for Metro-North customers that will operate from the following locations during peak hours:

• Middletown Station (to Beacon Station on the Hudson Line)
• Harriman Station (to Tarrytown Station on the Hudson Line)
• Palisades Center Park and Ride in West Nyack (to Tarrytown Station on the Hudson Line)

This weekday, rush-hour, peak direction only shuttle service will be extremely limited. There will be no off-peak, weekend or reverse commute service.
Click here to view the Shuttle Service Map.
Ferry Service Options
Some parking is available for Metro-North customers at the two Metro-North ferry services that connect with the Hudson Line train service:
Newburgh-Beacon Ferry Service
Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry Service
Parking Options

Some parking is available at Metro-North's Cortlandt Station on the Hudson Line and North White Plains Station on the Harlem Line.
Metro-North will cross-honor West of Hudson Metro-North tickets on the Hudson and Harlem Lines and the ferry services.
Other Options
Use existing bus services: From Rockland the Tappan ZEExpress; from Orange County use the Newburgh Beacon Shuttle.
MTA officials ask train riders to also visit the NJTRANSIT website at www.njtransit.com for the latest Port Jervis Line and Pascack Valley Line train service information.

Photo courtesy of John Tachine