longisland

A union official says engineer William Rockefeller caught himself nodding at the controls prior to Sunday's fatal Metro-North derailment in the Bronx.

Union leader Anthony Bottalico says that Rockefeller "caught himself, but he caught himself too late." Bottalico says Rockefeller told him he "nodded," akin to a momentary lapse while driving a car. Earlier today, the National Transportation Safety Board declined to comment on reports the engineer had zoned out moments ahead of the crash.

The Metro-North Railroad commuter train was traveling Sunday at 82 mph as it approached a 30 mph zone and jumped the tracks along a sharp curve. Four passengers died.

While investigators had yet to finish talking with Rockefeller, questions swirled around him because the train went into the curve at nearly three times the speed limit. Dozens of people were injured.

As NTSB worked to determine what caused the Sunday morning wreck in the Bronx, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Rockefeller should be disciplined for "unjustifiable" speed.

Rockefeller has worked for the railroad for about 20 years and has been an engineer for 11. The rail employees union says he was injured in the wreck and has cooperated with investigators. It says the NTSB investigation will show "there was no criminal intent with the operation of his train." Investigators began talking to the engineer Monday but didn't complete the interview.

Rockefeller's work routine had recently changed. He had begun running that route on Nov. 17, two weeks before the wreck, said Marjorie Anders, a spokeswoman for Metro-North's parent, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Union leader Anthony Bottalico said Rockefeller had changed work schedules - switching from afternoons to the day shift, which typically begins at 5 a.m. - but was familiar with the route and qualified to run it.

The NTSB says investigators haven't found any evidence of brake trouble during the train's nine previous stops and no problems with track signals. Weener said Tuesday there were "no anomalies."

AP wires contributed to this report.

A union official says engineer William Rockefeller caught himself nodding at the controls prior to Sunday's fatal Metro-North derailment in the Bronx.    Union leader Anthony Bottalico says that Rockefeller

Long Island

LI | Weather

LIFORECAST

You know, I watched it for so many years and to be seeing and hosting it is a different level. So it looks like everyone else enjoyed their time as well. They did. So this wet weather will get out of here for a little bit. You can have some hot chocolate and dry off tonight after work. And then tomorrow we get a little bit of a break from the rain. Saturday will be your day to get out, do some decorating, do some shopping. Even on Sunday. If you are out, it will be wet. So just have that umbrella. We'll be talking about on and off rain for much of the day, especially the afternoon and evening. Look at your highs this weekend in the fifties. So it is going to be mild. Um So at least, I guess that's a good thing. If it's going to be raining, at least it won't be cold right now. We're in the forties. You see those fifties southwest, this mild air will be in place for the day tomorrow. A little break in the morning, we have some low clouds and fog to kick off the day. But the afternoon is not bad. I think we get a couple of bright spots in the clouds, seeing some sunshine here and there. It's a little bit unsettled but it's dry at night. Light rain is back Sunday morning. There's not much until the afternoon and you see some heavier steadier rain will come through. It will be appearing kind of like today. Um, let's say between about two o'clock and eight tonight, 10 o'clock, most of that rainfall should get out of Suffolk County by 9 to 10 o'clock. Monday will be dry one more mild day and then we'll turn a little bit cooler as our winds will shift to the northwest. How much rainfall are we expecting? About a half an inch, maybe close to an inch in some spots? And that will be through Monday morning after that. The drier weather is back most of next week looks nice with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the forties.

https://vod.chdrstatic.com/transcode/de360d9a-c92e-4b56-a52f-89879c936505/de360d9a-c92e-4b56-a52f-89879c936505.transcribe

Union leader: Engineer William Rockefeller caught himself nodding at controls before Metro-North derailment