Person fatally struck on LIRR tracks near Hillside, Queens

A person was struck and killed by a Long Island Rail Road train near Hillside, Queens Monday morning, officials said. The fatal incident caused service disruptions.

The railroad first notified customers about the incident just before 6 a.m., when it sent out an email alert about “police activity west of Hillside” that was causing trains to bypass some stops.

The railroad later confirmed in another email that “Police and EMS are responding to a trespasser on the tracks who was struck by a train west of Hillside Employees Only Facility.”

Monday afternoon MTA officials said a person who was not authorized to be on the tracks was killed by a train between the Jamaica and Hollis stations around 5:26 a.m. MTA Police are investigating the incident.

The incident resulted in several train cancellations and delays of up to 25 minutes throughout the morning rush hour, in part because of congestion through Jamaica.

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.