LIRR Expects Near-Normal Rush Hour After Work Trains Collide Near Hicksville
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Three Long Island Rail Road work trains that collided on the tracks west of the Hicksville station on Tuesday have been removed from the tracks, but residual delays continued.
The incident happened on the tracks directly behind the Nassau County Fire Marshal's office in Westbury around 11 a.m., injuring several workers and suspending service.
"We were literally over the fence within moments of the accident," assistant chief John Priest told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall. "All of our personnel in the fire marshal's office are trained EMTs."
LIRR Delays Continue After Work Trains Collide Near Hicksville
As CBS 2's Carolyn Gusoff reported, three work trains collided in a chain reaction on the railroad's busiest line.
"It involves three very large pieces of equipment, three individual cars, actually, track cars," LIRR spokesman Joe Calderone told Gusoff.
Priest said five LIRR workers were hurt; three refused medical aid and two others were taken to nearby hospitals for non life-threatening injuries.
"One gentleman had a head laceration, one gentleman had some pain in the neck," Priest said. "We basically treated it, truthfully, like a rear-end car accident."
The tracks have been cleared and the LIRR is expecting a near-normal rush hour with some residual delays and some possible cancellations on the Ronkonkoma and Port Jefferson branches during the evening rush hour, the MTA said.
LIRR Delays Continue After Work Trains Collide Near Hicksville
Service had been suspended for an hour and a half in both directions between Mineola and Hicksville after the collision.
"It was not a derailment of this equipment," Calderone told Gusoff.
While the cause of the crash is under investigation, it's believed that the back work train rear-ended another, sending it crashing into a third, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported.
The crew will be tested for drugs and alcohol, which is routine after a crash.
Visit new.mta.info for more information.
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