NEW YORK: At least 24 people were injured as two New York subway trains collided on Thursday, causing chaos among commuters.
The accident occurred around 3 p.m. local time near 96th Street and Broadway on Manhattan’s Upper West Side neighborhood.
Dozens of police and fire vehicles reached the area to help hundreds of passengers awaiting evacuations, while commuters sought alternative routes as three subway lines were disrupted heavily.
Ian Swords, an emergency medical services commander at the scene said that there are no fatalities and 24 injuries, which are not serious.
New York City subway in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, said there is a major disruption to the train service while emergency teams help passengers and conduct an investigation of the incident.
There is a major disruption to 1/2/3 service while emergency teams assist passengers and conduct an investigation after a train derailed near 96 St.
There is no 1/2/3 service in most of Manhattan.
Go to https://t.co/vhZQ2kZ2vb to see further details and alternatives. pic.twitter.com/pM1FwM2AXW
— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) January 4, 2024
The President of The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Richard Davey said the trains bumped into each other just north of the station at slow speed.
No serious injuries in the incident
He said thankfully, there were no serious injuries. He added one train was out-of-service that had been vandalized.
One passenger recalling the incident said the train started shaking very hard leaving everyone scared and screaming. He said there were a lot of children and everyone was trying to call 911.
Another passenger said all of a sudden, we just felt, like, a loud boom.
Emergency responders asked the MTA to turn the power off, so that they were able to evacuate the train that had passengers on it.
Davey hoped that full service will be restored by Friday morning, but he said that’s not guaranteed.
