Metro-North Crash Victim Ellen Brody's Daughters Defend Their Mother

The daughters of the late Ellen Brody, the Edgemont woman at the center of the Metro-North train tragedy in Valhalla, defended their mother in an exclusive interview Tuesday on the “Today Show.”

Brody’s SUV was struck by the commuter train as she was in a rail crossing, and people have questioned how and why her vehicle became stuck in the train’s path. Brody was one of six people to die; dozens also were injured.

“I know who my mom was, and I know she would never, never intentionally hurt people,” Danielle Brody told host Matt Lauer. Husband and father Alan Brody did not participate in the four-minute segment, which was taped at the family’s home. The piece was initially scheduled to air Monday but was postponed by a day.

Also on Patch:

• Video: Daughters of Metro-North Crash Victim Ellen Brody to Appear on the ‘Today Show’

Ellen, who was 49 when the February crash occurred, would have turned 50 last week, and she was remembered by her daughters as a warm, loving mother who was also their best friend.

They also recalled the frantic hours after the crash as they awaited news of their mom, who was driving home during evening rush hour from her jewelry store job.

“Obviously, the way it happened is really upsetting,’’ said Danielle. “I don’t know if knowing or not knowing would make it better. It’s just so unimaginable, and it feels so unreal.”

The girls are still haunted by how and why it happened, but bristle at the posthumous criticism their mother has received. “I Googled my mom’s name and read the comments,” said Julia, with Alexa adding that while some want to find someone to blame, it was still an accident.

“How I’m feeling right now, that there’s five other families that also feel that way, and right now the only thing that I’m feeling is that I don’t have a mom anymore,’’ said Julia. “All of these other tragedies, it’s so hard for me to even comprehend that my mom is the reason for that. It’s so surreal. She’s not a murderer.”

Click here to read the story on the Today Show website.

HARLEM LINE TRAGEDY:

• Harlem Line Tragedy: The Front Car Filled with Smoke
• Harlem Line Tragedy: Safety Systems at Crossing Were Working, Investigators Say
• Phone, E-Mail, Twitter: NTSB, Metro-North Reach Out
• Ossining Resident Joseph Nadol Among Victims in Metro-North Tragedy
• Deadly Train Crash Puts the Spotlight on Metro-North’s Recent Safety Record -- Again
• Harlem Line Tragedy: Engineer Credited With Saving Lives
• Chappaqua Resident Robert Dirks Among Victims in Metro-North Tragedy
• Bedford Hills Resident Walter Liedtke Among Victims in Metro North Tragedy
• Edgemont Resident Ellen Brody Among Victims in Metro North Tragedy
• Danbury Resident Aditya Tomar Among Victims in Metro-North Tragedy
• Bedford Resident Eric Vandercar Among Victims
• Metro-North Harlem Line Tragedy: Timeline; Feds Collecting Evidence
• Car vs. Train Crash, Fire in Valhalla

Photo 1: Ellen Brody via Facebook; Photo 2: Danielle, Julia and Alexa Brody speak to Matt Lauer, screen capture via the “Today Show” website.

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