Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
70 Injured From "Staggering" Metro-North Train Collision
By
Jen Chung
Published May 18, 2013
Modified May 18, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Fairfield Police
By
Jen Chung
Published May 18, 2013
Modified May 18, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Authorities say that last night's Metro-North train collision between Bridgeport and Fairfield left 70 people injured and three remain in critical condition. Senator Richard Blumenthal said after seeing the scene, "The damage is absolutely staggering."
The 4:41 p.m. train, with 300 passengers, from Grand Central Central on its way to New Haven derailed at 6:10 p.m. near the I-95 overpass in Bridgeport. It was struck by a train traveling in the opposite direction—the 5:30 p.m. from New Haven, which had 400 passengers. Part of the wall and roof of some train cars were ripped away and tracks were twisted.
One passenger told WCBS 2, "Everything just came to a stop. We went flying. 'I thought, ‘This is the end. Brace yourself.’” Another said, "I saw that one entire compartment was completely ripped open. The whole side was gone, and people there lying in between trains."
Some passengers thought it might have been a bombing. A man on the westbound train said to NBC New York, "We came to a sudden halt. We were jerked. There was smoke. People were screaming; people were really nervous. We were pretty shaken up. They had to smash a window to get us out." One woman told the AP, "All I know was I was in the air, hitting seats, bouncing around, flying down the aisle and finally I came to a stop on one seat. It happened so fast I had no idea what was going on. All I know is we crashed."
Most of the injured were treating quickly. An investigation is currently being conducted—the National Transportation Safety Board is on the scene, as are Connecticut authorities and the MTA.
Via Governor Dan Malloy
The MTA says, "There are four tracks in this segment of the New Haven Line, but two of those tracks are out of service for a long-term project to replace overhead wires. On the remaining two tracks, there was extensive infrastructure damage as a result of the collision. Both the track and the overhead wire have been damaged. The train cars cannot be removed until the on-scene investigation is complete, and they will need to be removed by crane."
Metro-North service between South Norwalk and New Haven is indefinitely suspended, as is Amtrak service between New York and New Haven. Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy said, "You should begin making plans ... for alternate travel."
Tagged
collision
connecticut
mass transit
metro north
train
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC
The DSA's NYC chapter accused the NYPD of collaborating with ICE and demanded Mayor Mamdani hold Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch responsible.
By
Elizabeth Kim
,
Brigid Bergin
and
Ben Feuerherd
Published Oct 9, 2026 at 6:31 p.m. ET
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
News
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
NY will opt in Trump’s school choice program, Hochul says
By
Jon Campbell
Residents, lawmakers warned for months of potential for deadly ICE activity in Marble Hill
By
David Brand
Manhattan DA argues judge shouldn't dismiss state charges against Luigi Mangione
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .