News & Reviews News Wire Passenger falls from NJ Transit train when doors open on wrong side during station stop NEWSWIRE

Passenger falls from NJ Transit train when doors open on wrong side during station stop NEWSWIRE

By Angela Cotey | August 21, 2019

| Last updated on November 3, 2020

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NJT_Secaucus_Lassen
A NJ Transit train from New York arrives at Secaucus Junction, N.J., on Aug. 16, 2019. On Monday, a passenger fell from a train stopped at the station when the doors opened on the wrong side of the car.
TRAINS: David Lassen

SECAUCUS, N.J. — NJ Transit is investigating how doors opened on the wrong side of a train during a station stop, allowing a passenger to fall out of the train and onto the right-of-way.

The incident occurred Monday at Secaucus Junction, NorthJersey.com reports, when a man fell out of train No. 3513, operating on the Northeast Corridor from New York Penn Station to Rahway, N.J.

NJ Transit spokesman Jim Smith told the news site that the man suffered minor injuries and refused medical attention. While an investigation is continuing, Smith said, preliminary indications are that the door opened because of an error by a member of the train crew.

A passenger on the train said the train, a 5:25 p.m. departure from New York, was packed, and that when those on board realized what had happened, they called for help and pulled the train’s emergency brake.

13 thoughts on “Passenger falls from NJ Transit train when doors open on wrong side during station stop NEWSWIRE

  1. A billion times the trainmen gets the correct side to open the doors on. Once in a billion and one they get it wrong. It’s inexcusable but let’s not make it more of a trend than it is..

    JAMES – The trains I’ve been on the trainmen the doors all have a lookout window and the trainman looks out the window before opening the door.

  2. I was on a packed NJ Transit train (NYC subway style packed) yesterday and can see how this would easily happen. I understand they are running shorter trains because of equipment and crew shortages.

  3. Hmm seems to be time for silly comments. In the UK where all platforms are “high” the guard (conductor) is required to open his door and step onto the platform to ensure that all other doors are properly platformed before returning inside the train and releasing them.

    Does anyone know if this is the proceedure which should be carried out on NJ Transit?

  4. Mister Cole. You wound me to the quick. All professional advice is honest, in the legal profession.

    The above comments are generic in nature and do not form the basis for an attorney/client relationship. They do not constitute legal advice. I am not your attorney. Find your own damn rat bastard liar.

  5. An old “Frank & Ernest” comic had those two characters sitting in a lawyer’s office. The attorney asks them, “Do you want my honest opinion, or my professional advice”?

  6. “If you or a loved one has suffered minor injuries from an “error” by a member of a train crew, call 1-800-screwem immediately. You may be entitled to significant compensation, and we want our 40% cut for fuel for our ambulance. Call Dewey, Cheatem & Howe now! (Licensed in Barbados, case will be referred to an attorney in your area, who will take his or her cut.”

  7. This is the sort of thing a personal injury litigator dreams about.

    The above comments are generic in nature and do not form the basis for an attorney/client relationship. They do not constitute legal advice. I am not your attorney. Find your own damn ambulance chaser.

  8. Big mistake refusing medical treatment. But then I’m sure he woke up with a sore back & neck. The attorneys will fill in the blanks after an exam from “qualified medical experts.”

    2020 NJ Transit report: There will be a fare increase due to unexpected operating costs in 2019.

  9. Sounds like this justifies a lawsuit and serious discipline for the employee involved if it is proven that the door opening was caused by employee error. This passenger is very lucky that there wasn’t another train approaching on the adjacent track. If there was I’m sure he would have suffered far more than minor injuries.

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