Two commuter trains collided during rush hour on Friday evening in Connecticut, injuring 70 people, according to CBS. The commuter trains serve the metropolitan New York area.
Three patients are in critical condition, though two of them are stable, according to officials at two Bridgeport hospitals. Approximately 700 people were on board the Metro-North train going east from New York City's Grand Central Terminal to New Haven when the train derailed around 6:10 p.m. just outside Bridgeport, according to MTA and Bridgeport officials.
The train was hit by another train heading west from New Haven to Grand Central Terminal on an adjacent track, according to Aaron Donovan, the spokesman for MTA.
Passengers describe it as chaotic and frightening.
"All I know was I was in the air, hitting seats, bouncing around, flying down the aisle and finally I came to a stop on one seat," Lola Oliver, 49, of Bridgeport, told the Associated Press. "It happened so fast I had no idea what was going on.
"All I know is we crashed," she continued.
A team from the National Transportation Safety Board headed to the crash site on Saturday with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, as well as other Connecticut officials, according to the governors office.
"We're most concerned about the injured and ultimately reopening the system," Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said from the scene about three hours after the crash occurred.
Forty-four people were treated at St. Vincent Medical Center, according to the nursing supervisor, and five of those were admitted.
Metro-North described the crash as a "major derailment." Malloy said there was extensive damage to the train cars and the track and that service may not resume until Monday.
The accident will have a "big impact on the Northeast Corridor," Malloy said. Amtrak uses the same rails and has suspended service between Boston and New York indefinitely.
The mayor of Bridgeport, Bill Finch, said the disruption could cost the region's economy millions of dollars.
"A lot of people rely on this and we've got to get this reconnected as soon as possible," Finch said.
Investigators are uncertain as to what caused the crash. Malloy said there was no reason to believe it was anything other than an accident. The area was down to two tracks due to repair work. Because Connecticut has an old rail system, there are no alternative tracks.
"Everybody seemed pretty calm," Malloy said. "Everybody was thankful they didn't get hurt.
"They were anxious to get home to their families," he added.
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