MTA to pay record $182M settlement for tragic 2015 train crash in NYC suburb that killed 6

The MTA will reportedly dole out a record $182 million settlement for the fiery 2015 train crash in a northern New York City suburb that killed six and left more than a dozen others injured.

The whopping payout comes after a Westchester County jury declared in July 2024 that the transit giant, which operates the Metro-North Railroad, was largely liable for the deadly Mount Pleasant mishap because the train’s driver wasn’t able to stop before striking an SUV stranded on the tracks, lohud.com reported.

The bulk of the settlement, or about $153 million, will go to the families of five slain commuters who were aboard the Harlem Line train on Feb. 3, 2015, when it barreled into the SUV driven by Ellen Brody, a married mother of three, who mistakenly steered onto the tracks during rush hour.

Brody was also killed in the crash. Her family blamed it on the controversial Commerce Street crossing, which has since been upgraded with traffic signals and other safety features.

The horrific collision left several victims burned beyond recognition after the gas tank on Brody’s vehicle burst into flames, sending a fireball racing through the front end of the train.

Most of the money will be paid out to the family of Metro-North rider Joseph Nadol, 42, a Harvard-educated equity analyst and married father of three whose family will receive $79 million based on his projected lifetime earnings of more than $120 million, according to lohud.com.

The family of scientist Robert Dirks, 36, will receive $35 million; survivors of Eric Vandercar, 53, a financial firm executive, will receive $25 million; kin of information technology specialist Aditya Tomar, 41, will get $10 million; and the family of 69-year-old Walter Liedtke, 69, will get $4 million, the outlet said.

The families will also get a cut of Brody’s $1.3 million insurance policy and a share of a separate $3.2 million settlement with the town of Mount Pleasant. About 30% will go to legal fees.

The settlement was sealed by the judge after it was reviewed by lohud.com and is no longer available to the public, according to court records.

Officials at the MTA did not respond to requests for comment on Sunday.