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Work to narrow Woodside gap starts

BY DEBORAH S. MORRIS | Newsday Staff Writer

9:29 PM EST, November 4, 2006

Work began Saturday to narrow the gap between platform and train at the Long Island Rail Road's Woodside station in Queens, even as a New Hyde Park woman recovered from injuries suffered in a Friday fall through the gap at the station there.

It was at the Woodside station that Natalie Smead, 18, of Minnesota, who was visiting the city with her father, fell through the gap and was killed Aug. 5. Smead had stepped out of the train, fell through, then crawled beneath the concrete platform and was struck by a train on the other side.

Newsday measurements at the Woodside station showed a gap stretching as wide as 11 inches. Subsequent measurements at other stations showed gaps as wide as 15 inches, roughly twice the railroad's standard minimum gap of 7 to 8 inches.

In late September, the railroad began making track adjustments to narrow wide gaps. Woodside was not initially on the list of stations slated for gap-related track work. An LIRR spokeswoman said last week she didn't know why the station was added to the list.

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so tonight's accident victim was a graffiti "artist". ONLY the NY Times cares! Send his "parents" the bill for tying up working people trying to get home!

Submitted by Tired of it all

9:56 PM EST, Jan 5, 2007

tonights incident is the equivalent of "snow days" in the public school system! viva la mexico! if you see something, say something!

Submitted by Freeport

9:49 PM EST, Jan 5, 2007

one "accident" strands 200,000 commuters in their tracks! Makes you feel REAL confident about the homeland security & evacuation plans we continue to pay for!!!!

Submitted by Freeport

9:47 PM EST, Jan 5, 2007

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LIRR officials Saturday identified the woman who fell into a gap Friday evening at the New Hyde Park station as Rosario de la Paz, 69. She was admitted to Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola for hip and back pain and was listed in good condition Saturday, according to a hospital spokesman.

De la Paz was leaving the eastbound train about 6:08 p.m. when she was "accidentally jostled" by other passengers and fell onto the platform, LIRR spokeswoman Susan McGowan said.

As she tried to get up, she fell into the gap between the platform and the train, which is about 4 feet deep, McGowan said.

Det. Sgt. Susan Riley of the MTA police said Saturday the incident is a "noncriminal investigation."

De la Paz was the third person to fall through a gap at the New Hyde Park station this year.

No one was at her home Saturday, but a neighbor of 10 years said de la Paz is a "lovely" woman who lived quietly with her two sisters and two nieces.

Last month, Christina Dadamo, 53, of New Hyde Park, fell when her leg slipped into a gap at the New Hyde Park station. She was scraped and bruised.

In June, Irene McDonald, 73, of Greenlawn, fell through a gap there and said she underwent skin graft surgery on her leg because of the injuries.

The LIRR is facing legal action from Smead's family and other riders injured after falling through the gaps.