At N.J. train crash, scene of ‘wild’ chaos

Swampscott native Jay Danahy, 41, was riding in the fifth car of a commuter rail train that slammed into Hoboken Terminal, killing one person and injuring more than 100 others yesterday. Danahy recounted what he described as a “wild, wild day” to the Herald’s Chris Villani:

“I live in River Edge, N.J. I grew up in Swampscott and I moved down here about 20 years ago. I have about a 35-minute commute into the city. It’s similar to riding the T. Everything was completely normal until the end. I was standing and preparing to get out of the train, I didn’t notice we had not slowed down.

Nothing felt odd until the impact. It felt like a 2- to 5-second skid and the lights went down. Some people around me fell to the ground, everyone was trying to figure out what was going on.

The train door opened and I looked to the left. If you compare Hoboken Terminal to North or South Station, there is less room between the tracks and where people walk to get to the train. People were panicking. I saw people crying. In the first couple of cars people were trying to get out, begging to get out, but the first responders were trying to keep them in because the ceiling and some wires were collapsing and they didn’t know if there were any live wires.

It’s crazy to process. Looking back, I was in complete shock. Part of me is very thankful, I sit in the front of the train half of the time, but I sat in the back just because of the bench I sat on waiting for the train.

People in the front were banged and bloody. I am going to get my back checked out but I’m not sure if it’s all in my head.

I will probably drive to work (for now) ... It was a wild, wild day.”