{“title”:”Metro-North Agrees to $182M Settlement Over Deadliest Crash”,”body”:”At a Glance
– Metro-North Railroad will pay more than $182 million to victims of the February 2015 Valhalla crash
– The settlement covers families of five train passengers who died and 29 injured survivors
– Attorney warns the dangerous third-rail design that caused the disaster remains unchanged
– Why it matters: The deadliest crash in Metro-North history could repeat because safety flaws persist
Eleven years after a commuter train slammed into an SUV and erupted into flames at a New York crossing, Metro-North Railroad has agreed to pay more than $182 million to victims and their families, marking one of the largest railroad crash settlements in U.S. history.
## The Fatal Night
On February 3, 2015, rush-hour traffic backed up at the Commerce Street crossing in Valhalla. Ellen Brody, 49, drove her SUV onto the tracks. The crossing arm gate came down on her vehicle. She pulled forward.
The train engineer hit the emergency brake three seconds before impact. The train struck the SUV at 50 mph. Part of the third rail pierced the SUV’s gas tank, then shredded the first passenger car.
Five men riding in the lead car died. Brody died. The crash became the deadliest in Metro-North history.
## Who Gets What
Court records show how the money breaks down:
– $79 million to the family of Joseph Nadol, 42, a Harvard graduate and JP Morgan equity analyst
– Remaining funds split among families of four other deceased passengers based on age and projected earnings
– 29 injured survivors receive between $125,000 and $8 million each
A judge sealed the detailed breakdown after the Journal News reviewed the documents.
## Blame and Responsibility
In 2017, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded Brody caused the crash. But the agency also faulted Metro-North’s third-rail design.
> “This accident demonstrated that Metro-North’s third rail assembly catastrophically compromised a passenger railcar with fatal consequences,” the NTSB stated.
The rail system broke apart at splice bars and penetrated the passenger compartment, increasing deaths and injuries.
A 2024 jury placed 71% liability on Metro-North for the five passenger deaths and injuries. The jury found the railroad 63% responsible for Brody’s death, citing the engineer’s actions and third-rail oversight.
## Eleven Years of Waiting
Attorney Andrew Maloney represented injured passengers and served as local counsel in one death case. He criticizes how Metro-North handled the litigation.
> “There were people that lost spouses, there were people that were seriously injured – like life-altering injuries – and they strung this case out for almost 11 years,” Maloney said.
The Brody estate and Metro-North have not reached a separate settlement after the family sued for negligence.
## Safety Threat Remains
Maloney warns the tragedy could repeat because the third-rail hazard persists.
> “There’s some easy fixes, we told them about it, they’re feasible to do, and they still have not done it,” he said. “So this accident could repeat itself today.”
MTA spokesperson Joana Flores stated that Metro-North “continues to prioritize safety and has worked with NYSDOT and the Federal Railroad Administration on material railroad crossing safety enhancements throughout the railroad network over the last decade.”
## Key Takeaways
– The $182 million settlement ranks as the third-largest U.S. railroad crash payout
– Five families of deceased passengers receive the majority of funds
– The third-party rail design that amplified the disaster remains unchanged
– Legal proceedings lasted nearly 11 years before resolution”,”meta_description”:”Metro-North Railroad agrees to $182 million settlement for 2015 Valhalla crash victims, but safety flaws that caused the disaster remain unfixed.”,”categories”:[“Breaking News”,”Corporate News”]}
