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The derailment happened at around 11:10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, as the eight-car train was traveling east of the Jamaica, Queens station at 175th Street and 93rd Avenue, according to MTA officials.
“It appears to be all eight cars of the train derailed,” MTA Chairman Janno Lieber told reporters.
Officials said 13 people were injured, two of them seriously. All of those injured were in stable condition and were expected to recover.
It was not immediately clear what caused the derailment, though an MTA official said speed was not a factor.
Everyone onboard the train remained calm in the moments following the derailment, Lieber said.
“Obviously, everybody got pretty shaken up. You're talking about a train that goes from being on the rails to bumping along on the ties," he told reporters.
Lieber said it will take time to clean up the site as the derailment damaged railroad ties and other infrastructure.
Following the incident, eastbound trains are bypassing the Hillside, Hollis, and Queens Village stops, the MTA announced on Twitter.
NYC Transit is cross-honoring on the Q2, Q3, Q8, and Q110 buses for service between Jamaica and Queens Village.
Westbound service is not disrupted, officials said.
Service disruptions were expected to continue throughout the evening commute and possibly Friday morning, Aug. 4.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said she has been briefed on the derailment and state personnel, including MTA officials, are at the scene assisting with the emergency.
“Our top priority is ensuring all passengers and railroad workers are safe and that train service resumes as quickly as possible,” Hochul said.
Travelers were encouraged to check the latest updates on the MTA website or the TrainTime app.
This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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