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U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Reps. Nita Lowey (D-NY) of Westchester and Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), whose district includes parts of Northern Westchester and Putnam, said they were heartbroken over the news.
“Our hearts go out to those lost, we pray for those injured and our hats are tipped to the brave first responders who came to the scene of this tragic crash so quickly," Schumer said in a statement late Tuesday night.
Maloney and Lowey expressed similar sentiments.
"I'm simply heartbroken," he said. "All of us who ride Metro-North are moms, dads, brothers, and sisters and with every accident, a family is torn apart by an unspeakable tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, families and first responders."
"My thoughts are with the victims of this horrible accident," said Lowey, the ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee. "I offer my deep condolences to their families, and I pray for the recovery of those who were injured tonight.
"I thank our first-responders and have been in contact with the Federal Railroad Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, which quickly deployed to the scene."
State Senator Terrence Murphy of the 40th District, which includes Valhalla, said he has been in constant contact with Metro-North and MTA officials.
"My office and I will be available to anyone in the Valhalla community to assist in the recovery from the worst accident in Metro-North's history," Murphy said in a statement.
"My heart goes out to the families of all those affected by this immense tragedy in Valhalla," Murphy added. "We are all praying for them. I thank the dedicated first responders who quickly came to aid of those in need. Maloney and Schumer called for a complete, thorough and prompt investigation.
“At this early stage, it is premature to point any fingers of blame, but there are many important questions that must be answered in the coming days," Schumer said.
Said Maloney: "As MTA and NTSB looks into this horrific incident in the days to follow, we need to know how and why this happened and then take real steps to prevent another tragic collision from ever recurring.”
New Rochelle Mayor Noah Bramson called the collision "an awful tragedy by any measure, but is even more unsettling because it involves a mode of transportation that is so familiar, so vital to the fabric of our region, and so much a part of the daily experience of countless commuters and their families."
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