'Tommy's Law' To Assist Train Victims Advances In Senate

RAMSEY, NJ — A law named in memory of a man who was killed crossing train tracks in town advanced in the state Senate recently.

The state Senate Transportation Committee March 26 approved a bill, named "Tommy's Law." The legislation would provide crisis counseling for victims killed in train and bus accidents.

Tommy Ryan was killed in June 2016 after he walked under the gate and crossed over the tracks while a train was traveling toward the Main Street station, authorities said.

The legislation would create crisis counselor position within NJ Transit. The person would provide victims and their families with support and counseling following unexpected train, light rail, and bus accidents and crashes.

That support may include support groups, family crisis intervention, and professional referrals.

“Crisis counseling plays a critical role in how people cope with grief and trauma,” state Senator Gerry Cardinale (District 39), the bill's sponsor. “After the sudden loss of a family member, counseling can provide the support, stability, and resources families need to recover. We cannot erase their pain, but by passing ‘Tommy’s Law,’ we can provide families and survivors with the tools they need to navigate the aftermath of a such a tragic event.”

The Senate Budget and Appropriation Committee will review the legislation.

“The state has a responsibility to ensure those who were injured in public transit accidents receive the services they need to recover. Families like the Ryans who have lost a loved one in a crash deserve our support as well. What they went through is an unimaginable tragedy,” Cardinale said. “Our first priority must be to meet the needs of these victims and their families.”

Related: New Jersey Train Strikes and Kills Person In Bergen County

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