LIRR train hits empty car in Bay Shore

An early morning Long Island Railroad train struck an empty car left on the tracks east of Bay Shore, temporarily closing the Montauk branch, an LIRR spokesman said Friday.

The 4:37 a.m. train from Speonk due in Babylon at 5:37 a.m. struck the vehicle, left at a crossing, at about 5:30 a.m., the spokesman said.

The crash closed the LIRR Montauk branch for about an hour as crews removed the car and inspected the train for damage, he said.

More: newsday.com/bayshore
On Twitter: Follow LI Towns on Twitter

There were no immediate reports of injuries and no damage to the train, the spokesman said.

By 6:45 a.m., traffic on the branch resumed.

The incident impacted the following trains, the LIRR said: The 6:21 a.m. train out of Speonk was due to leave on schedule. The 5:30 a.m. train out of Speonk due in Long Island City at 7:34 a.m. was 25 minutes late and was held at Patchogue. The 5:08 a.m. train out of Speonk due in Penn Station at 7:02 a.m. was held at Sayville and was 30 minutes late.

The new LIRR fares went into effect on Thursday morning.