At least 6 killed after New York City commuter train hits vehicle

At least 6 people have been killed and others are injured after a commuter train from New York City hit a vehicle on the tracks during rush hour. An earlier report that two vehicles had been struck was incorrect, said Aaron Donovan, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Donovan said that 5 passengers on the train and a woman standing outside the vehicle were killed.

It happened Tuesday near the town of Valhalla, New York, the Metro-North Railroad service said on its official Twitter feed. Local police are calling it a mass-casualty incident, and at least one area hospital - Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla - is reportedly preparing to treat numerous injuries. 

More than 700 people were on board the train, according to reports.

Spokesman Donovan says at 6:30pm ET, a black Jeep Cherokee was struck while crossing the tracks at Commerce Street. Both the vehicle and a portion of the train caught fire.

Metro-North Railroad said service on the Harlem Line was suspended between North White Plains and Pleasantville because of the collision. The line runs from Harlem, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, to Wassaic in southeast New York state.

Photos from the crash site show the extent of the damage.

The total number of injuries is unclear. Many passengers reportedly escaped from the rear of the train after the collision. First responders can be seen assessing the situation on scene.

 

More to come...