VALHALLA, N.Y. (AP) -- A crowded commuter train slammed into a sport utility vehicle on the tracks at a suburban New York crossing and burst into flames, killing seven people and seriously injuring nearly a dozen in the railroad's deadliest crash, authorities said.

The collision involving a Metro-North Railroad train and a Jeep Cherokee Tuesday evening in Valhalla, about 20 miles north of New York City, sent hundreds of passengers scrambling to get to safety. Authorities said the impact was so forceful the electrified third rail came up and pierced the train.

Killed were the SUV's driver and six people aboard the train, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, making this crash the railroad's most deadly.