An LIRR train heading east on the Ronkonkoma line plowed into an SUV stopped on the tracks just west of the Central Islip station at about 4:30 a.m. this morning. A man inside the SUV was killed, and Newsday reports that the collision "caused the vehicle to erupt in a fireball." There were 31 passengers aboard the train at the time, and none of them were injured. But service on the Ronkonkoma line has been suspended in both directions between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma this morning.
As of 11 a.m., the MTA says "Westbound service from Farmingdale will operate hourly until repairs are made on the Ronkonkoma Branch. Buses will replace trains in both directions between Ronkonkoma and Farmingdale. The train involved in the earlier incident has been removed. LIRR personnel are on the scene assessing the damage and making necessary repairs."
So far it's unclear if the crossing gates were down at the time of the accident, or if the vehicle had become disabled while on the tracks, or stopped intentionally. But investigators believe there was only one person in the SUV, and that victim has not yet been identified. The SUV was dragged about 200 feet, and a LIRR spokesperson says the collision caused "significant third-rail damage."
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