On February 9, 1996, two NJ Transit commuter trains collided at Bergen Junction (since removed/abandoned) in Secaucus, New Jersey, United States.

This accident occurred during the morning rush hour just south of the current Secaucus Junction station.

However, as DeCurtis and Miller went about their shift, signal issues that would persist into the early hours of February 9 developed on the Port Jervis Line.

Nonetheless, DeCurtis operated his last evening train normally and without incident as he departed Hoboken Terminal at 11:50 p.m. and arrived at Suffern around 12:49 a.m. on the 9th.

[2] An alarm clock was set by the crew so that they would wake up at 5:30 a.m. to operate a return trip to Hoboken before signing off for the day.

The crew then spent around 30 minutes performing the necessary brake and start-up tests and procedures before departing Suffern station at 6:12 a.m. with a Bergen County Line semi local to Hoboken.

Following departure from Waldwick, Miller reminded the engineer, saying, "We make all the stops except Glen Rock,".

Shortly afterward, the engineer likely noticed the misaligned switch or saw Train #1107 and the emergency brake was activated.

[1] Cab Car #5146 was ripped open in the collision, killing the engineer John J. DeCurtis and a passenger aboard train #1254, Arthur David Stern.

Locomotive #4148's roof collapsed in on the cab on impact thereby killing Engineer Alfonso Debonis instantly.

Other emergency services arrived within about 10 to 20 minutes after the first several 911 calls were made, although the response of the first responders was initially hampered by the inaccessibility of accident location.