Crime & Safety

Danbury Man's Lawsuit Second in Metro-North Tragedy

The man was riding in the middle of the first car during the fatal crash Feb. 3 in Mount Pleasant.

A Danbury man injured in the Metro-North tragedy that killed six people in early February will be the second to sue Metro-North, the News Times reports.

Julio Gonzalo Loja Mendoza, 39 was riding in the middle of the first car on Feb. 3, the publication reports. Mendoza’s lawyer, Agostinho J. Ribero told the News Times after the car caught on fire it took firefighters a while to arrive causing passengers to break a window to get out.

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An SUV on a grade crossing in Mount Pleasant was struck by a northbound express train Feb 3. As the train pushed the car up the tracks more than 400 feet of the electrified third rail sliced upward through the car and into the train. The driver and five of the 20 passengers in the first train car died.

According to the News Times, Mendoza was treated for several injuries as a result of which he has been unable to work. He signed a notice of claim that was delivered to Metro-North’s Manhattan headquarters on Feb. 27.

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