Dean Meminger, NY1’s criminal justice reporter, was among the very first to tweet out that something was wrong on the Harlem Line.
At 6:57 p.m., he wrote that a Metro-North train had hit a car on the tracks and that first responders were on the scene.
#MetroNorth hits Car on crossing, #Valhalla #Westchester. Police/fire on scene. Injuries reported. No srvice #Whiteplains 2 #Pleasantville
— Dean Meminger (@DeanMeminger) February 3, 2015
A little more than a half hour later, Meminger wrote that there were many injuries, that a woman was in the struck vehicle, and that Westchester County Executive was reporting fatalities.
#MetroNorth hits Car on crossing, #Valhalla #Westchester. Police/fire on scene. Injuries reported. No srvice #Whiteplains 2 #Pleasantville
— Dean Meminger (@DeanMeminger) February 3, 2015
His followup tweets, and those of countless others started telling the story on social media throughout the night and into this morning — the accident was brutal.
Here are a sample of the social media postings on Twitter, Vine, and Instragram:
Passenger on #MetroNorth train said there was no safety guidance on how to evacuate after crash: https://t.co/wygwmNHoUf. Terrible.
— Brian Ries (@moneyries) February 4, 2015
Six dead in #MetroNorth #traincrash in Valhalla. @Lohud Story, photos, video: http://t.co/aMY9Hg9oOX pic.twitter.com/Uk1Gl1x3og
— Seth Harrison (@SethEHarrison) February 4, 2015
#NYC Commuter train collides with 2 cars in Westchester causing massive explosion #metronorth http://t.co/IEy8hrm2zF pic.twitter.com/qZsCbzvxy4
— Hotpage (@HotpageInfo) February 4, 2015
As you step into the trains this morning, say a prayer for the victims of the #MetroNorthCrash. It could’ve been any us. My deepest sympathy
— Denis Bautista, CPA (@DenisBautista) February 4, 2015
Front pages on the horrifying #traincrash in NY 7 dead #MetroNorthCrash .@nypost .@newsday .@NYDailyNews .@amNewYork pic.twitter.com/xpzEZu0AR6
— Paul M. Sparrow (@PaulMSparrow1) February 4, 2015
#MetroNorthCrash Shuttle Bus Plan In Place For Morning Rush After Deadly Metro-NorthAccident pic.twitter.com/kzrMLsHR81
— Sukanya Krishnan (@SukanyaNYC) February 4, 2015
MTA confirms six dead in #MetroNorth crash in Valhalla. pic.twitter.com/SUV9fpqttv
— Alex Silverman (@AlexSilverman) February 4, 2015