DWI arrest after burning vehicle on tracks causes hourlong delays on Ronkonkoma line, LIRR says

Service on the Ronkonkoma Branch was suspended for about a half-hour in both directions early Tuesday because of a burning sedan on the tracks, the Long Island Rail Road said.

The burning vehicle was reported on the tracks east of the Farmingdale station shortly after 5:30 a.m., said spokeswoman Meredith Daniels.

Matthew Blumenthal, 27, of Hauppauge, got out of the sedan and was not injured but he was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated, she said. Daniels said the vehicle was near the New Highway crossing, but had not been hit by a train.

Service was suspended about 6 a.m. between Ronkonkoma and Farmingdale, and customers were advised to use either the Port Jefferson or Montauk branches.

Service was restored just after 6:30 a.m., the LIRR said in an email alert and on social media. After service was restored there were delays on the Ronkonkoma Branch averaging about 60 minutes.

With Ellen Yan