New Jersey Transit operator dead, 23 people hurt after train hits tree

NTSB investigating the cause of the crash

24 people were on board at the time of the incident

A New Jersey Transit train carrying 24 people crashed into a tree on Thursday, killing the operator and injuring 23 other people, the transit agency said.

The train was on its way from Penn Station New York to Trenton when it hit the tree in the township of Secaucus, New Jersey, at around 5:30 p.m., according to NJ Transit.

The operator, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other 23 people on board were taken to nearby hospitals with injuries that ranged from minor to serious.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the cause of the crash. The agency said it had sent a team of investigators to the scene and would be reviewing data from the train's event recorder.

NJ Transit said it was providing support to the families of the victims and that it would be working with the NTSB to determine the cause of the crash.

Here is a list of the injuries reported by NJ Transit:

• 1 critical
• 4 serious
• 18 minor

The crash caused significant delays to NJ Transit service on the Northeast Corridor line. The agency said it was working to restore service as quickly as possible.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.