The Latest: NJ Transit has paid $500K for safety violations

HOBOKEN, N.J. – The Latest on an investigation into a commuter train crash that killed one person and injured more than 100 others Thursday in Hoboken, New Jersey (all times local):

7:15 p.m.

Records show New Jersey Transit has paid more than $500,000 to settle federal safety violations since 2011.

The data from the Federal Railroad Administration shows the violations ranged from employee drug and alcohol use to violations of railroad operating rules or practices.

The settlement payments include about $70,000 in fines New Jersey Transit received after federal inspectors found more than a dozen violations in 2014 and 2015. Statistics for the current year are not yet available.

A spokesman for the commuter rail didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

A U.S. official told The Associated Press the Federal Railroad Administration issued “dozens of violations” to New Jersey Transit during an audit in June. The official, who was familiar with the audit, spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the official wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation.

____

5:45 p.m.

A U.S. government official says the Federal Railroad Administration had investigated New Jersey Transit and found dozens of safety violations months before a commuter train crash, which killed one woman and injured more than 100.

The official, who’s familiar with the agency’s audit, spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the official wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation.

The official said Saturday the FRA conducted an audit of New Jersey Transit in June and violations were found. The official says the rail agency also was fined.

A follow-up phase of the audit, focusing on ensuring the railroad’s compliance with safety guidelines, was ongoing when a commuter train slammed into Hoboken Terminal Thursday.

A spokesman for New Jersey Transit didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.