Driver charged in NJT grade crossing collision

A 29-year-old motorist driving with a suspended license has been charged with reckless driving and disregarding a railroad signal when he attempted to beat a New Jersey Transit  commuter train at a grade crossing equipped with an active warning system in Paterson, N.J.

At approximately 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, NJT Main Line train 1125, which departed Hoboken Terminal at 6:53 p.m. and was scheduled to arrive at Suffern rail station at 8:09 p.m., struck the vehicle on the tracks at the 5th Avenue grade crossing in Paterson. None of the approximate 400 passengers and crew members on board the train sustained any injuries, according to NJT spokeswoman Nancy Snyder. Rail service on the Main Line was briefly held due to the incident with substitute bus service accommodating the customers on the impacted train.

The driver of the automobile, 29-year-old Cristian D. Vasquez of Paterson, was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital with unspecified injuries. Vasquez was issued summonses for disregarding a railroad signal, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.

“All of our grade crossing warning devices, gates and safety signals were operating properly,” Snyder said. “NJT reminds motorists to obey all rail grade crossing warning devices and signals and exercise caution when approaching any railroad crossing.”