The Bridgeport train crash and derailment on May 17 happened in the area where maintenance work was done in April and an engineer told investigators he saw “an unusual condition on the track” moments before the crash, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The NTSB team investigating the Metro-North train crash left Bridgeport on Thursday and will be analyzing photos, video, data, reports and records, and other evidence.
Inspection reports revealed that Metro-North personnel in April repaired a joint bar, used to join two sections of rail together, the month before the crash, according to NTSB.
Investigators removed sections of rail in the area of the derailment and shipped them to the NTSB materials laboratory in Washington for further examination.
Investigators said the eastbound train derailed and stopped.
The westbound train struck it about 20 seconds later, after the engineer applied the emergency brakes, according to investigators.
The engineer of the eastbound train NTSB investigators he saw what he described as an unusual condition on the track as he approached the Interstate 95 overpass and that the train came to a stop before being struck by the westbound train.
