26 Injured In UWS Subway Train Crash, Derailment: MTA

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY - 26 people were injured after a subway train rear-ended another on the Upper West Side, prompting a partial derailment Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

A northbound commuter 1 train hit an out of service 1 train at the 96th Street station about 3 p.m., causing the first car of the commuter train to derail, MTA officials said at an evening press conference.

The out of service train had been vandalized and had four workers aboard. 26 people, including at least one MTA worker, suffered minor injuries as a result of the incident.

No serious injuries were reported, FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Ian Swords said, adding that the injuries sustained "were consistent with a low-speed train derailment."

The passenger train and another train behind it were evacuated following the crash, MTA officials said. All passengers aboard were checked for injuries as they returned to the platform.

To avoid passengers evacuating onto the tracks, some straphangers were evacuated onto the work train, FDNY officials added. Power was also shut off to the track during the evacuations, prompting mass delays for commuters Thursday afternoon.

Between 600 and 1,000 straphangers were evacuated in total, fire officials said. The injured were transported to area hospitals.

It was not immediately clear what caused the incident, and the crash remains under investigation, authorities said.

"Switch, signal and equipment ... at this point, there's nothing to suggest this was equipment related," New York City Transit President Richard Davey said, adding that "human factors" will also be included in the investigation. "I think it's a little too early to tell, but at this point, from what we can tell, the equipment was working as intended."

Our team is responding to the train derailment on the 1/2/3 line at 96th street. @FDNY and @NYPDNews emergency personnel are on the ground assisting efforts. Please avoid the 96th and Broadway area if you can. https://t.co/tOpe0rOWKw pic.twitter.com/CWZ3gsWM9v
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) January 4, 2024

1, 2 and 3 train service is suspended in most of Manhattan, the MTA via X. Motorists should also expect road closures and emergency personnel from West 95th Street to West 97th Street on Broadway, city officials said.

"Emergency personnel are working to keep passengers safe as they leave the area," Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote via X. "I am grateful to our first responders assisting New Yorkers."

There is a major disruption to 1/2/3 service while emergency teams assist passengers and conduct an investigation after a train derailed near 96 St.

There is no 1/2/3 service in most of Manhattan.

Go to https://t.co/vhZQ2kZ2vb to see further details and alternatives. pic.twitter.com/pM1FwM2AXW
— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) January 4, 2024