UPDATE: Woman has mental health issues, mother says

BURLINGTON -- A Hainesport woman threw an unsuspecting 5-year-old girl onto the light rail tracks as a train was approaching Friday night, but police officers were able to stop it, police said Friday.

Police said the woman, later identified as 20-year-old Autumn Matacchiera, was unrelated to the girl who was standing with her mother and mother's boyfriend. She has been charged with attempted murder.

The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m., shortly after a Burlington officer was stopped by an alert NJ Transit bus driver who reported the woman acting suspiciously in the area of High and Broad streets, police said.

Other officers also responded to the scene and found Matacchiera at the Burlington light rail platform on West Broad Street, police said.

They said as the officers were walking onto the platform ramp to approach her, Matacchiera grabbed the girl and threw her onto the tracks as the train was approaching.

Police said officers quickly jumped in front of the train to signal it to stop, and the girl's mother's boyfriend picked up the girl. They said Matacchiera was quickly subdued and placed in custody.

The girl, who is from Burlington, was taken to Memorial Hospital of Burlington County with a cut to her face and bruising, police said. She was treated and released, they said.

Matacchiera was taken to Lourdes Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation and is currently in police custody before being moved to a jail.

The City of Burlington police along with the NJ Transit police urge any operator or passenger using public transportation to report suspicious behavior. To report a crime in progress or request immediate police or emergency assistance, customers should call 911 or the NJ Transit Police Communications Center at 1-800-242- 0236 or 973-378-6565.

Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaRemoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.