HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS (February 10, 2026) – A pedestrian has tragically died in Haverhill after being hit by an MBTA train near Bradford.
Essex County officials say the accident occurred around 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday. The Haverhill Line Train 1216 was heading from Lawrenceville when it collided with a pedestrian who crossed the train tracks.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision to help the victim. Despite life-saving measures, he died due to the severe nature of his injuries.
Photos of the accident site showed a heavy police presence as authorities continued their investigation.
Liability for Essex County Truck Accidents
Determining liability in a train accident can be difficult. Train operators have a legal obligation to operate their trains in a reasonably safe manner. This requires them to abide by all relevant speed limits throughout any trip. They must also continuously scan the tracks ahead for potential hazards. There are many ways that a train operator may have acted negligently prior to hitting a pedestrian.
- Scanning: A train operator may have failed to keep a proper lookout for pedestrians, workers, or objects that may have been ahead of the train.
- Speed: A train may have been traveling at excessive speeds given the prevailing conditions. Trains have speed limits in much the same way that cars do. These speeds must be altered to take into consideration weather and urban settings.
- Horn: A train operator may have failed to sound their horn as required by statute. Horns are important to help alert pedestrians of oncoming trains.
- Delayed Braking: A train operator may have failed to initiate emergency braking when a pedestrian enters the train tracks ahead of them.
If a train operator fails to slow down to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could be construed as negligence. Even if a pedestrian was standing still in the middle of a set of train tracks, this does not relieve a train operator of their duty of care to slow down to avoid a collision. Liability for a train accident could also extend to the company that a train operator worked for. As a general rule, employers can be liable for the wrongful conduct of their workers who were operating within the course and scope of their job duties.
Steps to Take After MBTA Train Accidents
Train accidents may seem like rare occurrences. But they are unfortunately quite common. According to the National Safety Council, “Railroad deaths totaled 954 in 2024, a 1% decrease from the 2023 revised total of 967. Nonfatal injuries totaled 6,542, a 3% decrease from the 2023 revised total of 6,768. From 2023 to 2024, fatalities at highway-rail crossings increased 7%, while fatalities involving other types of incidents decreased 4%.”
Specific steps should be taken after any train accident in Massachusetts:
- Obtain photos: Take photos of the accident site if possible.
- Seek medical treatment: Opt to be checked out by EMS and visit urgent care or the emergency room if your injuries are serious.
- Medical records: Medical records related to the incident should be collected and preserved.
- Legal review: The family of any person who died in a train accident should seek an independent review by a local personal injury attorney.
- Obtain surveillance footage: Surveillance cameras may have captured the collision should also be sought out.
Train accidents are often highly complex events. Unfortunately, law enforcement and train companies will virtually always blame any pedestrian or driver who is involved in a collision. But the fact of the matter is that many train accidents are the result of negligence by train operators. It is also possible that the company responsible for any set of train tracks for a railroad crossing could be responsible for a collision if that location was in a dangerous condition. The family of any person who died in an accident with a train would be wise to carefully consider all of their legal options with an experienced injury attorney.
Work With Us – Investigating Haverhill Train Accidents
We at DiBella Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of the person who died in this Haverhill MBTA train accident. Any person with more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar incidents can be prevented.
Do you need more information about a Haverhill train accident? Our team of train accident attorneys near Boston is here for you. We are committed to helping victims understand their rights and holding train companies accountable for their misconduct. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any collision, we are here for you. Contact us today.