What to Know
- Five people were hurt when a light rail train crashed into a fire truck in Jersey City
- The train derailed and the fire truck was sent 30 feet from the site of the crash
- NJ Transit is reviewing video of the crash with investigators
Five people were injured when a Hudson-Bergen Light Rail train crashed into a fire truck and derailed in Jersey City on Friday evening, fire officials said.
Four firefighters and the train's operator suffered minor injuries in the collision near Washington Boulevard and Sixth Street, officials said. The seven to ten passengers aboard the train were not injured.
Jersey City firefighters were rushing to Newport Centre for a call about a possible death at the mall, but as their truck was crossing the intersection shortly after 7:45 p.m. the Hoboken-bound train crashed into it.
"We were literally just sitting here and all of the sudden I hear fire trucks," Rose Interiano said. "And then all I hear is a bang."
The force of the crash smashed the windshield of the light rail train and caused it to derail. The fire truck ended up about 30 feet away from the intersection, a large dent in its side.
Images show injured firefighters being led away from the scene of the accident.
"We saw one guy walking away," one man said. "He had blood dripping down his face."
The firefighters and the train operator were taken to an area hospital.
Local
Jersey City Fire Chief Steven McGill said he talked with the operator.
"Got to the intersection, didn't see anything, heard a loud bang and that's all he remembers," McGill said.
NJ Transit has video from the train and will review it with an investigation team from the Jersey City Police Department, McGill said.
Officials said the light rail trains typically go about 5 mph through intersections.
Police said an investigation into the initial call, about a possible death at Newport Centre, was still under investigation Friday night.
