Hackettstown cops: Icy railroad tracks cause NJ Transit crash

HACKETTSTOWN – An NJ Transit vehicle that runs on railroad tracks crashed into a car Tuesday morning, police said.

At about 9:10 a.m., police responded to the railroad crossing at the intersection of Bergen Street and Route 46 for a report of a motor vehicle crash.

Robert Lewis, 54, of Matamoras, Pa., was traveling east on the railroad tracks in what is called a “high-rail vehicle” toward the Route 46 crossing, police said.

High-rail vehicles are equipped to operate on both roadways and railroad tracks.

Lewis applied the brakes as the vehicle approached the Route 46 crossing but the vehicle slid on the ice-covered rail, went into the intersection and struck a 2008 Lexus driven by Luba Gulyaeva, 64, of Pomona, N.Y.

The railroad crossing warning activations were not activated at the time, police said. According to NJ Transit, the railroad crossing warning activations do not activate for high-rail vehicles crossing the roadway.

Gulyaeva complained of knee pain but refused medical attention. Lewis complained of neck pain and was taken to Hackettstown Regional Medical Center by the Hackettstown Rescue Squad, police said.

There was a passenger in both vehicles but neither was injured in the crash, police said.

The high rail vehicle was disabled on the tracks and NJ Transit responded to the scene to remove it, police said.

All trains were suspended from entering the Hackettstown Station until about noon Tuesday, and Route 46 east was closed between West Stiger Street and Valentine Street until about 10 a.m., police said.

No summonses were issued for the incident, police said.