An NJ Transit train crashed into the platform at the Hoboken Terminal Sept. 29, 2016 in
Hoboken, New Jersey.
Credit: Pancho Bernasconi/Getty Images
Officials in New Jersey are still piecing together what caused a horrific train crash in Hoboken yesterday (Sept. 29) that killed one person and injured more than 100 others. While it's not yet known if the crash was caused by operator error or mechanical failure, there are technologies available that are designed to halt a train during an emergency.
Observers at yesterday's crash scene said the train was traveling much faster than is typical for a station approach, NPR reported. The train did not slow as it barreled into Hoboken Terminal at 8:45 a.m. ET, and its momentum carried it through the barrier at the end of the track and up into the station itself, causing part of the roof to collapse.
The train did not carry an automated braking system known as Positive Train Control (PTC), which is designed to deploy in emergencies. Many are now questioning whether equipping New Jersey commuter trains with this safety feature could have prevented the tragedy. [Top 10 Leading Causes of Death] https://www.livescience.com/56339-hoboken-nj-crash-positive-train-control.html
