Bergen Rider Plans To Sue NJ Transit For Hoboken Train Crash: Report

A Tenafly man who was a passenger aboard the ill-fated Hoboken-bound train when it crashed into the station has filed notice of his intent to sue NJ Transit, a report says.

Sheldon Kest’s attorneys announced the launch of the lawsuit during a news conference in Newark Tuesday, charging that their 66-year-old client lost part of a finger, received lacerations on his head and face, and broke his nose in the fatal crash Sept. 29 that killed 34-year-old mother Fabiola Bittar de Kroon, the Associated Press reported.

More than 100 other riders were reportedly injured in the collision, officials say.

“I'm so fortunate to be here and to hopefully, through the legal system, help prevent another senseless, deadly New Jersey Transit crash," Kest reportedly said. "I need to know: Why did it happen? How did it happen? And who should be held accountable so it never happens again?"

It is not clear what Kest is seeking in the lawsuit, the Associated Press stated.

The National Transportation Safety Board released more details of its investigation into the fatal crash last week. The Board determined that the train that crashed into the platform of Track 5 was going twice the 10 mph speed limit at Hoboken Terminal.

The event recorder indicates the throttle increased from idle to the No. 4 position while the train was going about eight mph, about 38 seconds before the collision at 8:45 a.m. The train began to accelerate, reaching about 21 mph at the time of the crash, the NTSB said.

By Staff Writer Eric Kiefer

Send local news tips, photos, and press releases to daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.

Photo: John Tachine