NJ Transit train hits car in Emerson, kills 1; Pascack Valley Line service restored

EMERSON, N.J. (WABC) -- A car driven by an 88-year-old driver was hit by a NJ Transit train Thursday morning.

The driver, Vaclav Budak of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was killed after the car caught fire. It entered the tracks at the First Avenue crossing and then was driven south along the tracks towards the Emerson Station until crashing into the train, also traveling southbound.

It hit the Pascack Valley Line train 1602, the 5:10 a.m. departure from Spring Valley just west of Lincoln Boulevard crossing.

The New Jersey Transit Pascack Valley Line was suspended after the car was hit, but service was restored about 9 a.m.

The car was hit in an area behind the Stop and Shop near the Westwood station. Emerson police do not know how the car got onto the tracks, because there is no obvious access. There is a wall on the shopping center side and woods on the other side.

There were 110 passengers on train and no reported injuries on board. It was not clear how the car ended up on the tracks.

The NJT Gladstone line was shut down but restored in both directions due to an earlier downed catenary lines.

The power line has been moved; 300 customers were without power.

NJT buses cross honored all NJT rail passes and tickets due to the service suspension.

Authorities are still investigating how the accident occurred, saying the preliminary investigation shows Budak got on the tracks at the First Street crossing and drove along them.