Crime & Safety

Motorist In SEPTA Train Accident Held For Formal Arraignment

Authorities say that Brian James Manning left his car on the train tracks, which left 24 SEPTA passengers injured in a train accident.

Brian James Manning, who authorities say left his car on the SEPTA train tracks that caused an accident that left 24 SEPTA passengers injured, will be held for formal arraignment, the Haverford Township District Court says.

Manning, 29, is facing 26 counts of reckless endangerment, including a DUI and risking a catastrophe. He faced Magisterial District Judge Elisa Lacianca during his preliminary hearing on Thursday, Dec. 1, where she ordered him to be formally arraigned on Thursday, Jan. 5, in Media, the court told the Haverford-Havertown Patch Monday afternoon.

Manning, of the 300 block of Valley Road in Havertown, allegedly left his Toyota Camry on the train tracks, about 75 yards away from the Beechwood-Brookline Station, after it became stuck after he made a wrong turn at 4:25 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, .

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Manning called his wife and AAA about the accident and then a Route 100 Norristown High-Speed SEPTA train hit the car, Jim Marino, the Haverford Township fire marshal, told Patch at the time. The accident left 24 passengers injured.

Authorities said that Manning did not call 911 and that the accident happened at a SEPTA substation along Karakung Drive. 

Find out what's happening in Haverford-Havertownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Haverford Township Police Chief Carmen Pettine informed Patch on the day of the accident that Manning appeared “disoriented.”

While the Upper Darby School District on Monday would not confirm or deny that Manning is a special education teacher for Upper Darby High School, the school’s website does list him as a special education teacher. 

Patch has reached out to Manning and is awaiting an email reply from him.


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