Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A person was fatally struck by a Long Island Rail Road train near Bethpage on Monday evening, April 20, 2026, according to the MTA. The incident occurred on the Ronkonkoma Branch and resulted in the partial suspension of rail service east of Hicksville.
The MTA confirmed that Ronkonkoma Branch service was partially suspended east of Hicksville as of 9:36 p.m. due to this fatal incident, News 12 reports. The suspension affected evening commuter service during peak travel hours, disrupting the schedules of thousands of Long Island commuters attempting to return home from New York City.
Following the incident, the MTA advised customers to take alternative routing for their travel plans. Passengers were directed to take trains from Penn Station or Grand Central Terminal and transfer at Jamaica Station to reach destinations along the Ronkonkoma Branch east of Hicksville. This routing significantly extended travel times for commuters heading to stations including Farmingdale, Pinelawn, Wyandanch, Deer Park, Brentwood, Central Islip, Ronkonkoma, and other stops along the eastern portion of the branch.
The fatal strike occurred near Bethpage, a densely populated area of Nassau County where the LIRR tracks run through residential and commercial districts. The specific circumstances surrounding how the person came to be on the tracks were not immediately disclosed by authorities. The MTA directed passengers seeking additional information about service updates and alternative travel arrangements to visit the MTA website.
The incident was reported by News 12 journalists Molly Bruton and Roberto Torres at 8:35 PM on Monday evening, with updates following as the situation developed. The timing of the incident during the evening rush hour compounded the impact on commuter travel, as the Ronkonkoma Branch serves as a critical transportation artery for thousands of Long Island residents who work in Manhattan.
Location & Road Context
The Ronkonkoma Branch is one of the LIRR’s busiest lines, stretching approximately 40 miles from Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal through Nassau and Suffolk counties to its terminus in Ronkonkoma. The branch serves 18 stations and carries tens of thousands of passengers daily, making it a vital transportation link for Long Island commuters.
Near Bethpage, the LIRR tracks traverse a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial areas. The tracks in this section run largely at grade level, with several road crossings and pedestrian access points throughout the community. Bethpage Station itself serves as an important hub for local commuters, with substantial parking facilities and bus connections that make it a popular boarding point for residents of the surrounding area.
Broader Impact
Train strikes involving pedestrians on Long Island rail lines typically trigger comprehensive investigations by MTA Police and can result in service disruptions lasting several hours while authorities conduct their preliminary investigation and clear the scene. The Ronkonkoma Branch’s role as a primary commuter artery means that even temporary suspensions can cascade into significant delays system-wide, affecting connections at Jamaica Station and creating overcrowding on alternative routes. The MTA’s recommendation to transfer at Jamaica Station represents the most direct alternative routing, though it adds approximately 20-30 minutes to most eastbound journeys during the service suspension period.