Speed Killed?

Metro-North Derailment Caused by Unsafe Speed?

Investigators Search for Clues

(Photos by David Greene)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 2- Four people were killed and dozens injured when a Metro-North commuter train that departed Poughkeepsie, NY. and headed  for Grand Central Station--derailed just a few hundred yards from the Spuyten Duyvil Station.

Teams of rescue crews were dispatched after the 7:20 a.m. crash that ejected three of the four victims from the train. Authorities estimate the train was packed with over 125 holiday travelers returning from Thanksgiving celebrations, when it crashed on Sunday, December 1.

One resident of the area, who awoke as the train made it's turn as it approached the station, recalled, "I thought I heard it speeding around the turn just before it crashed."

Multiple sources say the train's engineer William Rockefeller, Jr., 46, a 14-year veteran with Metro- North, told investigators that the air-brakes on the train had failed.

Police used cadaver dogs to search for additional victims in the heavy brush as scuba divers searched the water where the Harlem River meets the Hudson.

Many of the reported 63 injured were transported to St. Barnabas, Jacobi and Montefiore Hospital's in the Bronx as well as New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan.

Police have identified the dead as James Ferrari, 59, of Montrose, NY; Ahn Kisook, 35, of Woodside, Queens; James Lovell, 58, of Cold Spring, NY., and Donna Smith, 54, of Newburgh, NY.

Governor Andrew Cuomo visited the crash site and Mayor Michael Bloomberg and police commissioner Ray Kelly visited with many of the injured, including several off-duty police officers at both Montefiore and St. Barnabas Hospitals.

Bloomberg stated that the crash could have been much worse, telling reporters, "It could have happened later in the day, and on a business day when a train like that is full."

A team of investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived on scene and immediately recovered the train’s "black box," that will provide crucial information as to what happened in the moments leading up to the crash.

Earl Weener of the NTSB stated, "Our mission is not to just understand what happened but why it happened, with the intent of preventing it from happening again."

The on-site investigation was expected to take a week, forcing the thousands of daily commuters along the Hudson Line to seek alternative routes. A detailed report on the exact cause of the crash was expected to take as long as a year.

The speed limit is normally 70 miles-per-hour along a straight-away before a 30 mile-per-hour limit as it approaches a sharp turn leading into the Spuyten Duyvil Station.

A train hauling garbage derailed back in July, a short distance from the most recent crash. That crash tore up the tracks and littered the line with tons of debris.

The crash was Metro-North's first fatal crash in its 30-year history.   

Tags: Train Derailment, Metro-North, Commuter Train

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Feeding the needy this Holiday

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Feeding the needy this Holiday: Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. joined FreshDirect CEO & Founder Jason Ackerman to deliver more than 200 turkeys to the residen...

Feeding the needy this Holiday

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. joined FreshDirect CEO & Founder Jason Ackerman to deliver more than 200 turkeys to the residents of the Betances Houses on St. Ann's Avenue. The turkeys were delivered to the event in one of FreshDirect's all-electric delivery vehicles, part of the company's commitment to an environmentally-friendly fleet.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Fordham Wins Battle of the Bronx

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Fordham Wins Battle of the Bronx: (Photos by Gary Quintal) By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 27- On Tuesday night, for the 106th time, the men’s basketball teams ...

Fordham Wins Battle of the Bronx

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 27- On Tuesday night, for the 106th time, the men’s basketball teams of Fordham University (3-2) and Manhattan College (3-2) met at Draddy Gymnasium on the campus of Manhattan to achieve bragging rights by winning the Battle of the Bronx. The competitiveness that evening reflected the meaning of the rivalry to both schools. 

Of the rivalry, Fordham senior Brendan Frazier commented, “It means a lot. It has a long history. The game has been going on a long time before my time.”

The outcome of the contest was not decided until the final minute of action. A basket and a free throw by George Beamon accounted for the final advantage for the Jaspers with about two minutes remaining. The first tie of the second half and fifth of the game came with 1:39 on the clock as Fordham senior Branden Frazier netted two free throws to knot the score at 73. The senior sunk the next basket to give the Rams an advantage that they never relinquished. 

The visitors controlled the action during the early minutes and achieved the largest lead of the game, 20-9, on a 3-pointer by freshman Jon Severe. Frazier fed the ball to his teammates quite effectively at first, achieving five assists in the first nine minute. After the game, Frazier commented, “As a sophomore I felt I had to do everything, but now I feel the pressure has lifted.”

The Fordham lead lessened as the period continued but the first half ended with Manhattan trailing, 42-39. There were three major contributors to scoring the 42-Severe-22, sophomore Mandell Thomas-12 and Frazier-6. Manhattan’s major weapon, George Beamon, entering the contest with a 28 points per game average, only sunk one of nine shots from the floor in the half. 

Beamon’s effectiveness greatly improved in the second half, and Fordham’s shooting from the floor declined. A 3 by Beamon at 16:39 gave the Jaspers their first lead of the second half, 51-49. 

Despite several of Fordham’s starters playing with four fouls, the defense was sufficiently effective to protect the lead without anyone fouling out. 

Severe, with his college high, led the scoring with 30. Frazier scored 21, moving him into 19th place in career scoring at Fordham with 1,186. Thomas reached a double-double, 17 points and 11 rebounds. Travion Leonard and Ryan Rhoomes, the only bigs on the Rams at 6-6, again played effectively on defense and off the boards. 

Beamon also achieved a double-double, scoring 24 and grabbing 11 boards. Rhamel Brown had great night before fouling out late in the game. He scored 12, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked an incredible nine shots. 

After the contest ended, Coach Tom Pecora of Fordham spoke words of tribute to his team’s opponent, “They (the Jaspers) have a great balance. They’re just a good basketball team.”

The next game for each team will be at home; Manhattan will host Monmouth on December 8 and Fordham will host Furman on December 4.

Tags: Fordham, Manhattan College, Jaspers, Battle of the Bronx 

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Rainbow Not-Too-Bright Busted

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Rainbow Not-Too-Bright Busted: Teens Busted in Subway Stabbing By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 26- Two teens have been arrested in a screwdriver attack aboar...

Rainbow Not-Too-Bright Busted

Teens Busted in Subway Stabbing

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 26- Two teens have been arrested in a screwdriver attack aboard a subway train.

Cops say the unidentified 45-year-old male victim was traveling on a northbound D-train when he was attacked by two assailants at the E. 170 Street Station at 2:30 p.m. on November 2.

The victim was reportedly punched in the face and stabbed with a screwdriver before the pair fled. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital and was recovering.

A photo taken from surveillance video would help cops catch up to suspects Jay Nelson, 17, and his 16-year old cohort Malik Cruz, who have both been charged with assault and menacing.   

Tags: Subway, Stabbing, Teen