NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A 62-year-old NJ Transit conductor, who most recently worked the Raritan Valley Line, has died from coronavirus, making him the agency's first employee to die from the disease, officials said Tuesday night.
"Today we mourn the loss of one of our own. Joe Hansen was the first member of the NJ Transit family to lose their battle with this invisible enemy," said NJ Transit president and ceo Kevin Corbett. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his many friends at NJ Transit."
And a tweet from NJ TRANSIT, which included a photo of Hansen with children, read, "All of us at NJ Transit mourn the tragic and untimely loss of conductor Joe Hansen from complications related to COVID19. Joe positively impacted many lives as he served customers for more than 20 years. Joe was a well-loved member of the NJT family, and he will be deeply missed."
So far, 87 NJ Transit employees have tested positive for coronavirus. Of those, 57 are operating buses, trains or cleaning stations
571 employees are quarantining as a precaution or awaiting test results.
159 employees have returned to work after being cleared.





