Six Confirmed Dead as New York City Commuter Train Hits Car Stuck on Tracks

Update 9:44 p.m.: via NBC News

Passengers on the crowded train, heading north from Grand Central Terminal to New York City’s northern suburbs, described a jolt, and then an announcement that the train had struck a vehicle. Some passengers had to break the glass of a door to get out; others used ladders to descend from the stopped train … People were taken either to a nearby rock-climbing gym called The Cliffs or allowed to walk to the Hawthorn Funeral Home. About 400 people took shelter at The Cliffs, the MTA said.

Original Post: Six people have been confirmed dead on Tuesday after a New York Metro-North commuter train struck two cars and caught fire. The accident took place during the evening rush hour as the train was leaving New York City on the Harlem Line. A Jeep Cherokee was reportedly on the tracks when it was hit by the train.

Here’s more from CBS 2 New York:

The Jeep Cherokee was on the tracks at Commerce Street in Valhalla when it was struck by Harlem Line train No. 659 at 7:08 p.m., Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokeswoman Marjorie Anders told WCBS 880. The train had left Grand Central Station at 5:45 p.m. The gates came down on top of the vehicle, which was stopped on the tracks, the MTA said. The driver got out to look at the rear of the car, got back in, drove forward and became stuck, the MTA said. The train shoved the car about 10 train car lengths north, the MTA said … Six people were confirmed dead, according to the MTA. They included the driver of one of the cars who was outside her vehicle at the time, and five people on the train… A total of 800 to 850 people were on the train at the time, Anders told CBS2.

*This post has been updated.