Family of woman killed in Metro-North to file suit
The National Transportation Safety Board said Ellen Brody's SUV was stuck inside the railroad crossing gates moments before the train hit, but instead of backing up, she drove forward onto the tracks.
NTSB
NEW YORK — The family of Ellen Brody, the New York woman who died when her SUV got trapped in a railroad crossing and was hit by an oncoming Metro-North train, sparking an explosion that also killed five train passengers, are suing the railroad and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for her death, NBC New York reported.
The Feb. 3 crash in the Westchester County community of Valhalla sparked an explosion and fire that burned out the first car of the train and sent pieces of the third rail stabbing through the passenger area.
The National Transportation Safety Board said Brody's SUV was stuck inside the railroad crossing gates moments before the train hit, but instead of backing up, she drove forward onto the tracks.
The crossing where the crash occurred in the Westchester County community of Valhalla has no barrier between the street and the tracks, and such crossings present safety issues, MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast has said in the past. For the full story, click here.
More Security and Safety
New Public Safety Hub Opens in Downtown Houston
The substation strengthens METRO Police presence in an area where transit activity, pedestrian movement, and visitor flow converge.
Read More →
SamTrans Sets Priorities for Potential Connect Bay Area Revenue
The board-approved framework allocates future funding to maintaining service, rider improvements, equity initiatives, and infrastructure repairs.
Read More →
Federal Transit Officials Launch MARTA Safety Probe
FTA has given MARTA 15 days to provide records on crime prevention, fare evasion enforcement, and security funding as part of a broader safety investigation.
Read More →
Strategic Safety Measures at CATS Lead to Drop in Transit Crime
Under the leadership of the CATS Chief Safety and Security Officer, the organization has marked a pivotal transformation.
Read More →
Chicago's NITA Act Moves Into Next Phase as Service Improvements Begin
Rider-focused improvements will begin rolling out across the system immediately as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service this summer in the six-county region.
Read More →
How Transit Agencies Are Evolving Enforcement-Only Models With Care-Based Safety Strategies
Transit agencies are redefining safety with care-based response models. See how leaders are improving trust and operations.
Read More →
A True Low-Floor Minibus Design Delivers Better Accessibility and Efficiency for Everyone
As transit demands evolve, so should your fleet. Download the whitepaper to see how the Low-Floor Frontrunner Minibus compares to traditional options.
Read More →
WMATA Debuts 'Fares Pay for Service' Awareness Campaign
The campaign was highlighted during a media event at the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center in Silver Spring, where WMATA’s GM/CEO Randy Clarke joined Metro Transit Police officers, WMATA management team, board members, and staff to expand fare enforcement and customer education efforts on Metro Bus routes throughout the region.
Read More →
The Evolving Role of Program Management in Transit Delivery
Brian Buchanan, HDR’s transit program management lead, discusses how agencies can strengthen governance, anticipate risk and deliver large-scale projects more effectively.
Read More →
TTC Enhances Security Efforts With More Checks, Track Intrusion Focus
The actions, and more, are part of the new and enhanced measures outlined in the “Advancing Safety on the TTC: 2026 Focus Areas Plan” report, which is going to the TTC Board on June 3.
Read More →