Metro-North and Engineer Faulted in 2015 Crash

A Westchester County jury found Metro-North and train operator Steven Smalls primarily responsible for the 2015 Valhalla crash that killed six people, contradicting a 2017 federal investigation that blamed SUV driver Ellen Brody. The jury attributed 71% of the responsibility for the passengers' deaths to Metro-North and Smalls, and 63% for Brody's death. The collision occurred after Brody's vehicle got stuck on the tracks, causing an explosion and fire when the train struck it. The jury criticized the design of the third rail system and Smalls' failure to slow the train earlier. The MTA disagrees with the verdict and is considering legal options. Damages, potentially amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars, will be determined in a separate trial.