One killed, 100 injured as train crashes into Hoboken train station
One person was killed and over 100 injured on Thursday when a NJ Transit train running on the Pascack Valley line slammed into the terminus of its Hoboken train station track during the Thursday morning commute and ripped through the platform, causing serious damage to the terminal facilities, and forcing suspension of service in and out of Hoboken on the PATH and NJ Transit trains, including the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.
Ambulances streamed into the crash site from areas as far away as Union and Essex County and the injured were being transported to all available nearby hospitals.
Photos on social media show part of the train inside the building, with metal and bricks collapsing around it. Photos on social media show part of the station’s roof collapsed.
The commuter train was heading into Hoboken from the suburbs of Bergen County in New Jersey and Rockland County, NY, according to preliminary reports. Passengers heading to work in New York City often take the train to Hoboken, where they can switch to a PATH train into New York.
This is second crash of NJ Transit equipment this week. On Monday two NJ Transit buses collided in the Lincoln Tunnel, injuring approximately 40 people, when one driver allegedly made an illegal lane change in the path of another bus that smashed into the rear end of the first.
Police retiree, road safety, new turf announced at Board of Commissioners meeting
Members of the Police Department and commissioners honored retiree Lt. James Holsten at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 28. After Holsten’s father left the department, Holsten joined in 1989, and is now retiring as a 28 year veteran. Members of the Police Department presented Holsten with an American flag sealed in a large, triangular plaque. The American flag was flown over Police Headquarters in his honor on Friday, Sept. 9.
Plenty of road safety initiatives were announced at the meeting, including Put the Brakes on Fatality Day, and a resolution for newly designated one-way streets. Mayor Nicholas Sacco announced that there were 562 fatalities due to traffic crashes in 2015 in New Jersey. Due to this, North Bergen has proclaimed Monday, Oct. 10 as Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day to increase safe driving behaviors.
Also to increase road safety, according to Mayor Sacco, resolutions for two streets have been designated one-way streets, and many other streets near schools are established as 15 miles per hour during certain hours of the day. The resolution for the new one-way streets is for Eastbound 79th Street, between Tonnelle Avene and JFK Boulevard. Another street in the resolution to be a one-way includes westbound 80th Street, between Tonnelle Avenue and JFK Boulevard.
A resolution for more than 10 streets surrounding seven North Bergen schools will be established as 15 miles per hour while school is in session, and for 45 minutes before school starts, and 30 minutes after the school day ends.
The schools are Fulton School, Horace Mann School, Lincoln School, Franklin School, McKinley School, Kennedy School, and the Fulton School Annex.
Another resolution for a grant of $500,000 to the Township of North Bergen from the County Trust Fund was discussed at the meeting also. The grant is for the construction of the turf on Bruin Stadium in James Braddock Park.
More information about the recent Board of Commissioners meeting will be published in next week’s addition of the North Bergen Reporter.
Mayor helps ‘bag hunger’ at ShopRite
Mayor Nicholas Sacco and Freeholder Anthony Vainieri visited ShopRite in Columbia Park to help bag groceries and support the store’s Partners in Caring initiative on Wednesday, Sept. 21.
Between Aug. 28 and Oct. 1 a portion of the purchase price of certain items in the store is being donated to Partners in Caring, which has provided more than $40 million to local food banks across the northeast since its inception in 1999. Customers can also choose to donate at the register.
Mayor Sacco and Freeholder Vainieri greeted customers and bagged groceries along with store manager Michael Iannacone to support “Help Bag Hunger Day.” The store also served cake to customers in appreciation for their participation. Last year the Columbia Park ShopRite in North Bergen raised $13,000 to fight hunger. This year they increased their target to $15,000, and are more than one-third of their way to their goal.
Free flu shots available in October
Mayor Nicholas Sacco has announced that free flu vaccines will be available at various locations throughout the township during the month of October. Proof of residency is required. For more information on this program call (201) 392-2085 to reach the North Bergen Health Department.
Flu vaccines will be available at the following locations: Tuesday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the North Bergen Kennedy Branch Library at 2123 Kennedy Blvd; Thursday, Oct. 6, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Westview Towers Community Room at 6115 Granton Ave; Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. at North Bergen Uptown Library at 8411 Bergenline Ave; Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Meadowview Village Community Room at 59096 Meadowview Ave; Thursday, Oct. 13 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Floral Gardens Community Room at 2625 Kennedy Blvd; Monday, Oct. 17, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Nutrition Center at 1441 45th St.
North Bergen resident named Vice President of the NJAASC
The New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers announced North Bergen resident
Jeffrey Shanton became vice president of the board of directors on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Shanton will serve a two-year term, and is the director of billing and business development at Journal Square Surgical Center, LLC, located in Jersey City. He resides in North Bergen.
Free movie night at the library Oct. 22
The North Bergen Main Library scheduled a screening of “Goosebumps” starring Jack Black on Saturday, Oct. 22. The event will take place at 2 p.m. with free popcorn and drinks. The Main Library is located at 8411 Bergenline Avenue. Admission and refreshments are free. Please contact the library for more information (201) 869-4715.