Overview
- The court-approved agreement exceeds $182 million, with most funds directed to families of five passengers killed; one family is slated to receive about $79 million, with others ranging from $35 million to $4 million.
- The settlement was reviewed by The Journal News before a judge sealed it, and injured survivors are set to receive additional payouts reported between $125,000 and $8 million.
- The 2015 evening-rush collision occurred after an SUV entered a Valhalla crossing in backed-up traffic, the gate arm lowered, and a train traveling about 50 mph struck it three seconds after the engineer hit the emergency brake.
- An NTSB finding cited the third-rail design as a contributing factor, and a 2024 jury assigned Metro-North 71% liability for the five passengers’ deaths and 63% for the SUV driver’s death, faulting the engineer and oversight of the electrified rail.
- The MTA declined to discuss specifics but said it has worked on crossing safety enhancements over the past decade, while a plaintiffs’ attorney criticized the 11-year timeline and said third-rail hazards still have not been fixed.