LIRR train clips portion of station canopy

A westbound express train passing through the Massapequa Park station Monday morning apparently clipped off a section of station canopy, knocking it to the tracks below, the LIRR said.

There were no injuries and power was shut off briefly while the aluminum section was removed, the railroad said.

Passenger Charles Ferris, who was on the westbound platform at the time, said he and other commuters were stunned by the incident, which occurred at about 6:55 a.m.

"All of a sudden there is a tremendous racket and it appeared to come off the top of the train as it came roaring through," Ferris said.

"It was a six-foot, metal panel," and one section ended up on the tracks and another on the platform, said Ferris, 64, of Massapequa Park, who was waiting for his 6:59 a.m. train to Atlantic Terminal.

Railroad spokesman Sal Arena confirmed that a section fell on the tracks, but he could not confirm that another section fell on the platform. He said it was unclear how the train, which does not stop at the Massapequa Park station, hit the section of canopy.

With John Valenti

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