Crime & Safety

Fatality Slows LIRR Trains

Woman killed near New Hyde Park station.

Written by Geoff Walter

Second update:

A 53-year old Elmont woman was killed west of the New Hyde Park Long Island Railroad station Sunday afternoon at an at-grade crossing.

The fatality led to a suspension of service on the Oyster Bay, Ronkonkoma and Port Jefferson lines.

Nassau County Police closed off the Covert Avenue crossing shortly after the incident occurred at about 3:20 p.m., according to the LIRR. The woman's body was found about 100 ft. west of the at-grade crossing, near where South Sixth Street intersects Second Avenue, on the westbound tracks.

The incident caused delays up to and including two hours along the railroad main line corridor, affecting the Ronkonkoma, Port Jefferson, and Oyster Bay branches. Some partial service is currently restored with trains utilizing both tracks through New Hyde Park as of 6:45 p.m. and delays of up to 90 minutes in some locations. Service was temporarily suspended between Jamaica and Mineola.

The fatality is being investigated as a suicide by the MTA Police. According to the MTA Police, the train engineer said that he saw the woman walk around the lower gate and stand in front of the train. The account was collaborated by another witness at the scene.

The woman's abandoned vehicle was parked in one of the spaces on Second Avenue near the at-grade crossing. Police entered the vehicle and took several photographs of the car as part of their investigation.

The woman's identity has not yet been released as they are awaiting positive ID through the Nassau County Medical Examiner's Office. The woman's husband as well as the couple's son and daughter were observed at the scene.

This is a breaking news story. Patch will update this story with more details as they become available.


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