Connecticut Congress Members Call for Investigation After Fatal Metro-North Crash

U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and U.S. Congressmembers Elizabeth Esty, Jim Himes and Rosa DeLauro are calling for a full investigation after a tragic Metro-North crash in New York on Tuesday evening that killed six people and injured a dozen others.

"There needs to be a massive overhaul in the culture in the safety and reliability of the tracks and to invest in the tracks and equipment that are decaying and often decrepit," Blumenthal said.

It’s too early to tell where the blame lies, Blumenthal said, but this brings up memories of several other tragic Metro-North crashes in recent years and he is calling on a prompt investigation.

"Riders deserve to arrive at their destinations safely and reliably. When they leave their homes in the morning, they have a right to expect that they are going to get where they're going without incident, and all too often, these incidents have been repetitive," Blumenthal said.

Murphy offered his deepest condolences to those impacted, then said the investigation into what happened must be comprehensive. 

"There are still many important questions that are left to be answered, but I’m confident that the National Transportation Safety Board will conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation as quickly as possible. In the meantime, I’d like to thank all of the first responders who so bravely rushed to the scene, and reassure Metro-North passengers that their safety is our number one priority as we take actions to ensure this never happens again,” Murphy said in a statement.

Esty released a statement on Tuesday night about the crash.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of tonight's horrific crash on Metro-North and their families during this difficult time. Commuters and their families need to be able to rely on safe, timely rail service. As a member of the Rail Subcommittee on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I will be raising serious questions with Metro-North and the Federal Railroad Administration on what actions can be taken to prevent this in the future. I've worked closely on rail safety efforts on the Committee, and tonight's crash is a glaring indication that more must be done," Esty said.

Service along the Harlem Line is currently suspended while the National Transportation Safety Board leads the investigation into what caused the crash.

DeLauro also released a statement about the crash.

“My deepest condolences go out to the families of the six people who tragically passed away and those who were on the train. A profound ‘thank you’ goes out to the first responders who assisted those on the scene," DeLauro said in a statement. "Federal investigators will determine what happened and how we can keep it from happening again. We must find a way to ensure that something as simple as a commute home does not become a deadly accident.”

Himes also offered condolences to families affected by the tragic crash and thanked the first responders.

“While we still don't have all of the facts about this accident, it's clear that there are a host of questions that need to be answered in the days ahead. I will keep pushing to ensure that we take concrete steps to prevent another incident like this from happening again,” Himes said in a statement.

 

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