Train Catches Fire, Motorcyclist Killed In Crash: NJ Weekend

NEW JERSEY — A train with 30 people on board caught fire over the weekend and around 280 families were displaced from their homes after the buildings were deemed unsafe. Here’s the news that made headlines during the weekend.

Train With 30 People On Board Catches Fire

An electrical fire damaged an NJ Transit train with 30 people on board, damaging the train and disrupting service south of Long Branch on Saturday, authorities said.

No injuries were reported, officials said.

The fire was reported at 12:33 p.m. on North Jersey Coast Line train 4736 that was headed north from Bay Head and was scheduled to arrive in Long Branch at 1:09 p.m., said John Chartier, director of media relations for NJ Transit.

Firefighters from Ocean Fire Company and Point Pleasant Beach Fire Company 2 responded and found smoke coming from the train with the conductor reporting an active fire under one of the cars with possible extension into the car, Ocean Fire Company officials said.

Firefighters found a small fire under the stairs leading into the car and the fire was quickly extinguished, officials said.

House Fire Displaces 4 People In Cherry Hill

A fire damaged a home in Cherry Hill on Saturday, displacing its residents, officials said.

The Cherry Hill Fire Department responded to the fire on the 200 block of Merion Avenue early Saturday afternoon, the department said on its Facebook page.

Officials said that firefighters were faced with an arching electrical fire on the exterior of the home.

The Red Cross said there were four people in the home and the agency was assisting them with temporary lodging and other immediate needs.

Pregnant Woman Injured In Crash

A pregnant woman was injured in a crash in Newark over the weekend, according to media reports.

The crash occurred Saturday around 4 p.m. when she was driving at the corner of Littleton and South orange avenues, according to a report from News12.

The drivers of both cars were hospitalized in stable condition.

280 Apartment Units Evacuated After Ceiling Collapse

Around 280 apartment units in Edison were evacuated over the weekend following a ceiling collapse in one of the units, officials said.

This was the second incident to occur at Evergreen Meadows in a week.

Officials rushed to inspect 12 buildings and 11 were deemed uninhabitable, officials said.

The evacuation of the buildings took place Friday as severe thunderstorms threatened the area.

The ceiling of the first apartment collapsed on Aug. 3 followed by the one on Friday, which prompted officials to declare the structure unsafe and move residents to temporary housing, Mayor Sam Joshi said.

Accommodation was provided at local hotels and at Edison’s staging center at Edison Senior Center 2963 Woodbridge Ave.

The management company agreed to pay for the cost of hotel accommodations.

As of Monday morning, 146 units had repairs completed, and inspected and residents were permitted to move back in.

Philly Motorcyclist Killed In Hit-&-Run

A Philadelphia motorcyclist was killed in a hit-and-run on Saturday night in Pemberton Township, according to media reports.

Gladerby Bredy, 32, was traveling west on North Pemberton Road when he was struck by a vehicle traveling south on Arney’s Mount Road, NJ.com reported. The driver of the other vehicle fled the scene.

Police found Bredy around 10:40 p.m., lying on the shoulder of the road. Investigation is on.

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