LIRR: Man found on tracks already dead?

Officials said a New Jersey man may have already been dead when he was struck by a Long Island Rail Road train Wednesday morning in Merrick.

Police are investigating the death of the man, 23, who was struck by the 7:31 a.m. train from Penn Station at about 8:30 a.m.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Aaron Donovan said it was not immediately clear if the man had been struck by a previous train or had died of some other cause -- but said the victim was on the tracks and immobile when he was struck by the eastbound train.

Officials identified the man Wednesday as Neelan Mannuelpillai, 23, of Plainsboro, N.J.

The 7:31 a.m. train from Penn Station was scheduled to arrive in Babylon at 8:44 a.m. Officials said the accident caused eastbound delays of up to 25 minutes. There also were minor westbound delays.