Husband of Metro-North crash victim calls engineer’s settlement ‘mysterious’

Family members of the victims of the deadliest crash in Metro-North history say they are wondering why the railroad quietly "settled" with the engineer of train - even before he was able to file a lawsuit.

News 12 Staff

Jan 2, 2019, 10:41 PM

Updated 1,934 days ago

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Family members of the victims of the deadliest crash in Metro-North history say they are wondering why the railroad quietly "settled" with the engineer of train - even before he was able to file a lawsuit.
It’s been nearly four years since the Harlem Line train slammed into a Mercedes SUV in Valhalla killing six people, and several families have filed lawsuits.
An attorney representing one of the victims of the crash says she, along with other attorneys, are appealing the ruling of a state Supreme Court judge not to release the details of the settlement. They say it’s important that any details be released.
News 12 has learned that Steven Smalls, the engineer, faced questions in Manhattan Wednesday from attorneys representing victims.
One of those lawsuits comes from Alan Brody, the husband of the woman blamed for the crash in the NTSB report over a year ago. Brody believes blame falls on Metro-North because of the confusing Commerce Street rail crossing.
Metro-North declined to provide details of the settlement, but in a statement they called Smalls heroic and says based on the NTSB report he was without fault in the accident.

News 12 spoke with Alan Brody by phone Wednesday, who said it was a cover-up by Metro-North and that it has been for years, saying the settlement with the engineer "sure sounds mysterious."


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