Two passenger trains heading in opposite directions collided during rush hour in southwestern Connecticut, injuring 70 people, five of them critically, and closing the key corridor between New York and Boston.
A Metro-North train heading from New Haven to New York City derailed around 6:10 pm on Friday, hitting the other train in Bridgeport, Connecticut, about 60 miles northeast of New York City on the long Island Sound, authorities said.
That caused some cars on the second train, which was destined for New Haven, to likewise leave the tracks, CNN reported citing a Metro-North spokesperson.
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy told reporters on Friday night that five people were “critically injured,” one of whom was in “very critical condition.” Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board will head the investigation into the crash, with Malloy saying that agency’s team should be on site by Saturday morning.
“We have no reason to believe that it’s anything but an accident,” the Governor said.
Power was shut off along the line and service has been halted — westbound past Bridgeport, and eastbound beyond South Norwalk —because of the derailment.
Amtrak train service also announced early on Friday night that it had suspended all travel between New York and Boston indefinitely after the crash.