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A settlement exceeding $182 million has been reached with victims of the 2015 Valhalla, New York, train-SUV collision, resolving a decade-long legal battle. The agreement primarily benefits the families of the five Metro-north Railroad passengers who died when an SUV became disabled on the tracks.
Details of the Settlement
According to court documents and reports from the Journal News, approximately $79 million of the settlement will be allocated to one passenger based on projected lifetime earnings.Payouts to the families of the other four passengers killed range from $35 million to $4 million. Additional funds are designated for the roughly 30 passengers who sustained injuries in the crash. The settlement was finalized after a jury found Metro-North Railroad responsible for the incident in 2024.
Liability and Jury Findings
In 2024, a jury steadfast that Metro-North Railroad bore 71% of the liability for the deaths of the passengers and 63% of the liability for the death of the SUV driver, Ellen Brody. The New York Times reported that the jury specifically cited failures related to the train engineer and inadequate oversight of the electrified third rail as contributing factors. The driver, Ellen Brody, had become confused by the road layout and drove onto the tracks.
Delayed Resolution and ongoing Concerns
Andrew Maloney, an attorney representing some of the injured passengers, criticized the Metropolitan Transportation authority (MTA) for the length of time it took to reach a resolution. “This should have never taken 11 years,” he stated, adding that safety issues with the third rail identified during the investigation remain unaddressed. LoHud.com details these ongoing concerns.
MTA Response and Safety Enhancements
The MTA declined to comment on the specifics of the settlement but affirmed its commitment to railroad crossing safety. In a statement, the MTA indicated it has been collaborating with state and federal transportation officials on “material railroad crossing safety enhancements throughout the railroad network over the last decade.” MTA Official website provides facts on ongoing safety initiatives.
The 2015 Valhalla Train Crash: A Recap
The collision occurred on February 3, 2015, during the evening rush hour in Valhalla, New York, approximately 20 miles north of New York City. Ellen Brody drove her Mercedes-Benz SUV onto the railroad tracks as traffic backed up. The crossing gate came down on the vehicle, but she continued driving onto the tracks. The Metro-North train, traveling at approximately 50 mph (80 kph), struck the SUV after the engineer applied the emergency brake just three seconds before impact. The impact caused the electrified third rail to detach, piercing the SUV’s gas tank and damaging the first passenger car of the train.
Key Takeaways
- A settlement of over $182
Worth a look