Former Adelphi University president Christine Riordan crashes vehicle onto LIRR tracks in Garden City, faces DWI charge, police say
A car landed on the LIRR tracks after crashing at the Nassau Boulevard station on Tuesday night, police said. Credit: Lou Minutoli
The former president of Adelphi University faces a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated after crashing into two vehicles and winding up on the LIRR tracks in Garden City Tuesday evening.
Christine Riordan, 60, who was the first woman to lead the university before abruptly stepping down in June, allegedly lost control of her black BMW on Nassau Boulevard near the Long Island Rail Road Nassau Boulevard station parking lot at 8:10 p.m., Garden City police said. She allegedly blew through a fence, striking two vehicles before landing in the tracks where she struck the third rail, police said. She and her passenger were not injured, police said.
As a result, trains were suspended on the LIRR's Hempstead Branch but service was restored by morning rush hour after repairs were made to the track.
Riordan’s lawyer, Steven Gaitman, said his client denies the charges and pointed to a potential car issue.
“We have witnesses and a timeline in terms of her whereabouts that would refute the fact that she was drinking. We actually believe it was a car malfunction that we are looking into,” Gaitman said in a brief call, declining to elaborate.
A spokeswoman with the Nassau County District Attorney's Office said Riordan's license has been suspended as mandated by law.
Workers help remove the car that crashed onto the tracks at Garden City's LIRR Nassau Boulevard station. Credit: Lou Minutoli
University officials declined to discuss the matter since Riordan parted ways with the institution after serving as president since 2015.
“We are aware of reports regarding our former president, Christine Riordan,” spokesperson Bobbie Dell'Aquilo said in a statement. “This matter is personal and unrelated to the University, and we will not be making further comments.”
The school earned accolades during Riordan's tenure.
While she was at the helm, the university’s national rankings rose and it was “named the highest-ranked university on Long Island by The Wall Street Journal,” according to a message posted by Michael Balboni, chair of the college’s board of trustees.
“Adelphi achieved a record-high student retention rate and was repeatedly recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, student social mobility, and alumni outcomes, with Adelphi graduates earning salaries that are 39% higher than the national average,” Balboni's online statement from June 20 reads.
In 2021, Riordan earned more than $1 million in total compensation — including base salary, a bonus and other related compensation, Newsday reported in 2023. Her current salary was not immediately available.
Newsday was unable to find a record of any previous charge against Riordan. No further details on the arrest or charges were available in police records.
Lorena Mongelli has been reporting for Newsday since 2021. Prior to that, she covered breaking news at the New York Post.
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