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

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

The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee May 21 approved a bill, named "Tommy's Law." The legislation would provide crisis counseling to victims who are injured train and bus accidents or to their families if they are killed.. The committee unanimously approved the legislation.

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."

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

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