LIRR delays continue after train hits pickup
An eastbound Long Island Rail Road train hit a pickup at the crossing just east of the Mattituck station before noon Wednesday, LIRR said.
The Nissan Frontier, struck on the passenger side, was pushed clear of the tracks at the Elijahs Lane crossing and ended up on the northeast side of the crossing, according to Metropolitan Transportation Authority police.
The driver, whose name was not released, was conscious and alert and was taken to Eastern Hospital in Greenport for observation, MTA police said.
The pickup had been going south on Elijahs Lane when the engineer of the Ronkonkoma-to-Greenport train saw the vehicle, sounded the horn and put on the emergency brakes, police said.
The engineer said the crossing gates were working properly and were lowered when the Nissan drove onto the tracks, police said.
The train was due in Greenport 12:07 p.m., but was held at the scene for about two hours as MTA and Southold Town police investigated.
It had only one passenger, the LIRR said, and the train resumed its trip about 1:50 p.m.
The Ronkonkoma-to-Greenport train operates only about twice a day, an LIRR spokesman said, but residual delays caused by the accident continued into Wednesday night.
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