The NJ Transit conductor who was killed when her train collided with a tree Monday morning was identified Tuesday as Jessica Haley.
Haley, 41, was a single mother of three boys who lived in Levittown, Pa. Her family plans to file a lawsuit against NJ Transit and several other entities.
“It is the duty of all companies who operate trains to ensure the tracks are clear for the safety of everyone on those trains, including the operators of the trains,” said attorney Kila Baldwin, representing the family. “This never should have happened, and we will be investigating the case carefully to hold all responsible parties accountable.”
An NJ Transit River Line train traveling south from Trenton struck a tree around 6 a.m. Monday near Roebling Station. The crash killed Haley and injured 23 of the 42 passengers onboard, according to NJ Transit.
Haley’s sister, Rebecca, is also a train conductor on the River Line, according to the family. She will be administering Haley’s estate and said there have been problems with trees near the River Line track for years.
“Rebecca Haley reports that the trees along this section of the New Jersey River Line were troublesome for years and other trains had hit downed trees in recent years,” Baldwin said. “At one point, dangerous trees along the railway were marked with X’s, but never taken down.”
NJ Transit did not publicly comment on the pending lawsuit. The Haley family also served notices of claim to the state of New Jersey, the township of Mansfield, the Burlington County Board of Commissioners and Alstom, the contractor that employed Haley and her sister.
“The family is understandably devastated and intends to pursue this matter to the fullest extent of the law to prevent anyone from ever suffering the same fate as Jessica,” Baldwin said.