Six dead in New York train crash

Seven people were killed when a Metro-North Railroad train struck a vehicle on the tracks north of New York City on Tuesday evening.

The train, which was traveling northbound, hit a Jeep Cherokee. The crash killed the female driver of the vehicle and several passengers on the train, according to reports.

{mosads}The train left Grand Central Station in New York City at 5:45 p.m., and the accident happened around 6:30 p.m. in the town of Valhalla, N.Y., about 20 miles north of the city.

About 400 passengers were evacuated and taken to a local gym for care, as firefighters responded to the burning train cars.

Metro-North suspended service on part of the line and used buses to transport passengers away from the crash site.

New York lawmakers said the families of those hurt or killed were in their thoughts and praised first responders on the scene.

We pray for those lost & injured tonight & laud the first responders who came to the Metro North crash scene so quickly.

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 4, 2015

My thoughts & prayers are with the families who lost loved ones in tonight’s tragic @MetroNorth accident. Thank you to all first responders.

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 4, 2015

“I’m simply heartbroken,” said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) in a statement. “All of us who ride Metro-North are moms, dads, brothers, and sisters and with every accident, a family is torn apart by an unspeakable tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, families and first responders.  

Maloney said that, as officials looked into the “horrific incident” in the days ahead, “we need to know how and why this happened and then take real steps to prevent another tragic collision from ever recurring.

— This report was updated on Feb. 4 at 7:48 a.m.