Fatal Train Accident Near Essex Street Station in Hackensack – On the morning of Thursday, August 7, 2025, a woman was fatally struck by an NJ Transit Pascack Valley Line train near the Essex Street Station in Hackensack, New Jersey. The incident occurred at approximately 9:58 a.m. along the tracks near Railroad Avenue and Sussex Street, an area where the tracks are not fenced.
According to witness accounts, the woman was attempting to cross the tracks when the train approached. Despite warning signals and the train’s horn, she was unable to clear the path before being hit. The circumstances surrounding why she was crossing at that location remain under investigation by NJ Transit Police.
The train involved was Pascack Valley Line Train 1651, which had departed Hoboken Terminal at 9:34 a.m. and was bound for New Bridge Landing. At the time of the accident, five passengers and crew members were on board. None of them sustained injuries.
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, but the woman was pronounced dead shortly after the collision. Authorities have not yet released her identity pending notification of family members.
In the immediate aftermath of the accident, NJ Transit suspended train service in both directions on the Pascack Valley Line between Wood-Ridge and New Bridge Landing. Substitute bus service was arranged to accommodate stranded passengers. Service on the line was later restored after investigators completed their initial work at the scene and the tracks were cleared.
NJ Transit Police are conducting a full investigation into the incident, including reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses. They are also expected to examine whether additional safety measures might be warranted in the area, given that the tracks near Essex Street Station are not fenced and are close to pedestrian routes.
This fatality marks the second deadly incident along the Pascack Valley Line in the past two months. In May, a man described by NJ Transit officials as a trespasser was struck and killed near the Anderson Street Station in Hackensack. That incident occurred just a short distance from Thursday’s accident site, raising renewed concerns about pedestrian access to the tracks in this part of the city.
Rail safety experts note that unfenced tracks and frequent pedestrian crossings can increase the risk of such accidents. While NJ Transit has warning systems in place, including train horns, lights, and gates at official crossings, people sometimes choose to cross at undesignated points, creating hazardous situations.
NJ Transit officials have expressed condolences to the family of the woman and reiterated their safety message urging the public to use only designated crossings and to remain vigilant around train tracks.
The Pascack Valley Line serves communities between Spring Valley, New York, and Hoboken, New Jersey, with connections to New York City via PATH trains. Thursday’s tragedy temporarily disrupted that service, but operations resumed later in the day.
The investigation into the woman’s death is ongoing, and further details are expected to be released once authorities confirm her identity and determine the precise sequence of events that led to the fatal collision.