Investigators probing the deadly Metro-North Bronx train disaster are comparing notes against a July derailment in Spain that killed 79 passengers, sources told The Post.
“There are striking similarities,” a source close to the probe said Tuesday.
“They are looking closely at the Spain derailment. That engineer was charged with multiple counts of homicide related to his speeding and recklessness.’’
Veteran Metro-North engineer William Rockefeller, 46, has been suspended without pay by the MTA while the probe continues, officials said. Rockefeller made about $145,000 last year.
His suspension came immediately after the crash Sunday, when it was clear that Rockefeller had been speeding, a source said.
In the Spain derailment, the train was going 95 mph, nearly twice the legal limit, when it jumped the tracks on a curve.
Francisco José Garzon was charged with 79 counts of “homicide by professional recklessness” and an undetermined number of counts of “causing injury by professional recklessness.”
Garzon was on the phone at the time of the crash. There is no indication Rockefeller was using his phone. Both engineers were driving at excessive speeds heading into dangerous curves, and both have told investigators that they realized, too late, they couldn’t slow down.
Rockefeller told his lawyer that he dozed off moments before the Manhattan-bound train — rocketing down the track at 82 mph into a sharp, 30 mph curve near Spuyten Duyvil station — flew off the rails, killing four and injuring 63.
Authorities are mulling criminal charges.
Rockefeller has worked for the MTA for 14 years, starting as a Grand Central custodian in 1999, according to a source. He had a clean record prior to the derailment.
“It’s still unknown if he will be charged, and they are still trying to figure out whether it would be local or federal charges,” a source said.
Meanwhile, crash victim Jim Ferrari was mourned at a wake in Montrose Wednesday. He will be buried Thursday.