Boy Recovering After Long Branch Train Accident

A 15-year-old Long Branch boy is recovering a day after he who was struck by a train in the second train-related incident in three days.

NJ Transit spokesman Dan Stessel said the boy was still being treated at the hospital Tuesday morning. Although his injuries are "non-life threatening," he suffered a severe hand and arm injury, he said.

Stessel said the unidentified boy suffered the injury after being struck by the 2303 train while "apparently walking on the tracks" south of Cedar Avenue, near the Lake Takanassee rail bridge.

Stessel said the boy was walking home from school at the time and was taking a shortcut. He added that the boy also had headphones on at the time of the incident. 

Stessel said his initial report which stated that the boy's mother witnessed the incident was incorrect, and that she was not at the scene.

Long Branch Police Lt. Frank Morey said the boy was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center.

The train, which departed at 2:08 p.m. from Hoboken, bound for Long Branch, experienced a one-hour and 15-minute delay and there is  "no further impact to the rush hour commute," Stessel said. No passengers were injured. 

The victim, who police communications reported as being "conscious and alert" through the ordeal, was pinned by the train after being struck. First responders worked to extricate the boy from the tracks while requesting the medevac to quickly transport him to the hospital for medical attention.

The incident comes just days after.

Stessel said both incidents are still under investigation by NJ Transit.