1 Dead After NJ Transit Train Hits Car Monday Morning

LINCOLN PARK, NJ — A driver died Monday morning after his vehicle was hit by a New Jersey Transit train, and officials say he appears to have driven around the crossing gates.

An NJ Transit spokesperson said that the train struck a vehicle along the Montclair-Boonton Line just before 9:30 a.m., at the Ryerson Road crossing in Lincoln Park. The male driver of that vehicle was pronounced dead on scene, officials said.

"While this remains an active investigation, preliminary reports indicate that the crossing gates were working as intended and were in the down position when the driver drove the vehicle around the gates and positioned the vehicle into the path of the train," said Kyalo Mulumba, Senior Public Information Officer for NJ Transit.

The train (#1074) had left Hackettstown at 8:24 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Hoboken at 10:30 a.m., transit officials said.

None of the passengers or crew aboard the train reported any injuries. About 40 people were on the train, and NJT said the passengers transferred to a bus to continue their journey.

New Jersey Transit Police are leading the investigation.