Long Island Rail Road Train Derails, 29 People Hospitalized

An accident involving a Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) work train and a passenger train Saturday, October 8 resulted in 29 people being sent to nearby hospitals to be treated for a variety of injuries, including concussions and broken bones. Fortunately, none of the injuries appear to be life threatening. Another 50 to 100 passengers received treatment at the scene for various minor injuries.

The accident reportedly occurred shortly after 9 p.m. between the Marillon Avenue and New Hyde Park stations, when the work train sideswiped the passenger train. Most of the injuries occurred to passengers in the first three cars, which were the three that derailed.

The collision happened close to a switch, but it was not immediately clear if a malfunctioning switch was what caused the accident. The immediate focus of LIRR was on cleanup and repairs to the rails, and officials continue to investigate.

Train accidents in the Northeast

This is just the latest of a series of high-profile train accidents that have occurred in the northeastern United States over the past year. In 2015, an Amtrak crash in Philadelphia resulted in eight deaths and more than 200 injuries. And a recent NJ Transit crash in Hoboken resulted in one death and more than 100 injuries.

Accidents involving public transportation can be especially dangerous, as buses and trains typically have large numbers of people on board. If you’ve been injured in a train accident, work with a dedicated personal injury attorney at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP.