Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A person was struck and killed by a Long Island Rail Road train near Westbury station Saturday afternoon, according to Metropolitan Transit Authority Police. The fatal incident occurred east of the station shortly after 2:20 p.m. when a westbound train struck the victim, who was not authorized to be on the tracks.
The victim, whose identity was not released by MTA Police, was confirmed dead at the scene by Nassau County Fire Rescue, according to authorities. No criminality is suspected in connection with the incident, and an investigation is ongoing, MTA police said.
The train involved was No. 7959, which was traveling from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station at the time of the collision. The train was carrying approximately 200 passengers along with crew members, none of whom were injured during the incident, according to MTA Police.
Following the fatal collision, all passengers aboard train No. 7959 were transferred to another westbound train to continue their journey to Penn Station. The incident caused significant disruptions to LIRR service, with delays of 20 to 30 minutes affecting both the Ronkonkoma and Port Jefferson branches due to police activity at Westbury station.
The delays, which impacted thousands of weekend travelers, have since been cleared as normal service resumed on both affected branches. The incident required coordination between MTA Police, Nassau County Fire Rescue, and other emergency responders who worked to secure the scene and conduct their preliminary investigation.
MTA Police emphasized that the victim was not authorized to be in the area where the collision occurred, suggesting the person may have been trespassing on railroad property at the time of the incident. The westbound direction of travel indicates the train was headed toward New York City when the fatal encounter took place east of Westbury station.
Location & Road Context
The fatal incident occurred near the intersection of Post and Union avenues in Westbury, in the vicinity of the busy Westbury LIRR station. This location sits along the heavily traveled Ronkonkoma branch of the Long Island Rail Road, one of the system’s most utilized lines connecting eastern Nassau and Suffolk counties to Manhattan.
Westbury station serves as a major hub for LIRR operations, handling thousands of daily commuters and weekend travelers. The area around the station sees significant pedestrian and vehicle traffic, particularly during peak travel times and weekends when families and visitors use the rail system for recreational trips to New York City.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
MTA Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision, though authorities have already indicated that no criminal activity is suspected. The ongoing investigation will likely focus on determining how the victim came to be on the tracks and whether any safety protocols or warning systems were involved.
As is standard procedure with all rail fatalities, investigators will examine factors including train speed, engineer response time, and whether proper warning signals were activated. The investigation will also review security camera footage from the station area and interview the train crew and any witnesses to establish a complete timeline of events.
Broader Impact
This incident marks another tragic occurrence along the Ronkonkoma branch near Westbury station, highlighting ongoing concerns about unauthorized access to LIRR tracks in this busy corridor. The 20-to-30-minute delays experienced across both the Ronkonkoma and Port Jefferson branches demonstrate how quickly rail incidents can cascade through the system, affecting thousands of weekend travelers who rely on consistent service for their plans in Manhattan and beyond.