Fatal PATCO Train Crash Into 2 Workers Under Federal Probe

CAMDEN, NJ - A fatal train crash in South Jersey that killed two contractors this month is the subject of a federal probe, officials said.

The victims, identified as JPC Group Inc. contractor employees Donato G. Fiocca and Victor R. Martins, were struck and killed by a westbound PATCO train on track 2 of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Camden on Oct. 14, a National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson told Patch. 68 passengers were aboard the train at the time, including eight inside the lead car.

At the time of the crash, there was a planned outage on track 2 for contract concrete work as the contractors were working around 9:21 p.m., the spokesperson said. However, according to preliminary information, track 2 had not been taken out of service when the contractors entered the bridge in a "close clearance" area.

The train was also traveling at a recorded speed of 33 mph; maximum authorized speed for the track is 40 mph, the spokesperson said. A preliminary report is expected to be published in December.

The full NTSB investigation is slated to not only provide information as to what occurred, but also why and how to prevent future similar tragedies, the spokesperson said.

A GoFundMe created by the Cement Masons' & Plasterers' Union Local No. 592 for the victims raised $23,300 as of Friday morning. All funds raised will be given to the victims’ families to help with funeral expenses, according to the fundraiser.

Fiocca had been a 25-year member of the union, while Martins was an eight-year member, the union said.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating JPC Group and the project’s general contractor, Carteret-based GC Skanska Koch Inc., a U.S. Department of Labor told Patch. Skanska is also conducting an internal review, according to the Cherry Hill Courier Post. OSHA has six months to release its report.