6 Dead After NYC Commuter Train Hits SUV Stuck on Tracks

**kellyhound** · #1 ● 02-04-2015, 04:21 PM

The female driver who died after her SUV was hit by a commuter train at a Valhalla, New York, railroad crossing Tuesday night has been identified as Ellen Brody (49), a mother of three from a nearby town.

Brody of Edgemont, New York, worked at a jewelry store in Chappaqua, New York. Two colleagues at the jewelry store and a Westchester County, New York, official who knew her "for years" confirmed her identity.

Brody was killed in the crash and ensuing fire along with five passengers on the train.

The SUV wrapped around the front of the train and was driven 400 feet down the track, dislodging the electrified third rail.

The rail apparently went through the SUV, punctured the gas tank, caused an explosion and then went through the floor of the train behind the motorman’s compartment.

Brody's Mercedes remained at the scene on the tracks but NTSB investigators said that they will be moving as much evidence as possible to a storage container in the coming days.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told that “it would be apparently inexplicable” that the SUV driver pulled forward onto the tracks and into the path of the oncoming train, as a witness reported.

A go-team from the National Transportation Safety Board arrived at the crash site this morning to investigate, and has not yet disclosed any conclusions.

All but one of the victims was said to be burned beyond recognition in the crash.

Passenger: Eric Vandercar

Eric Vandercar, 53, of Bedford, was a father of two and senior managing director and head of municipal funding in the international sales and trading department at Mesirow Financial.

A live-music enthusiast, he shared concert tapes with online archives – particular those of the band MOE, Phish and the SpinDoctors.

Numerous friends took to the Internet and social media on Wednesday to mourn his death, posting some of the concerts he had shared.

On Twitter, Vandercar posted that he was an extreme skier, an advanced scuba diver and whitewater rafting guide.

In October, a week before he attended the Allman Brothers final concert at the Beacon Theater, he tweeted he had been to 232 of the band's shows there.

He joined Mesirow 10 months ago after 27 years at Morgan Stanley.

spudigitti · #2 ● 02-05-2015, 05:19 AM

Gruesome death would they haver been at a bar I wonder ....

Oswald2001 · #3 ● 02-05-2015, 11:59 AM

My guess is that this was the intentional act of an insane woman.

ices · #4 ● 02-05-2015, 01:34 PM

Stupid woman killed 5 others.

K9Grip · #5 ● 02-05-2015, 02:16 PM

I don't care who you are, but you never stop your car on railroad tracks. And if that bar did hit the back of her car, she should have hit the gas knowing the trains arrival was imminent.

Oswald2001 · #6 ● 02-05-2015, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by K9Grip ↗

I don't care who you are, but you never stop you car on railroad tracks. And if that bar did hit the back of her car, she should have hit the gas knowing the trains arrival was imminent.

But, the thing is, everyone else just stayed in the vehicle.

That leads me to suspect that she pulled into the Suicide Position...reeeeeal quick like...at the last moment.

K9Grip · #7 ● 02-05-2015, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by Oswald2001 ↗

But, the thing is, everyone else just stayed in the vehicle.

That leads me to suspect that she pulled into the Suicide Position...reeeeeal quick like...at the last moment.

She was the only one in the vehicle.