Taxi drove past railroad crossing gates before train hit it on Long Island: MTA

MANORVILLE, N.Y. (PIX11) – A taxi drove around railroad crossing gates right before it was hit by a train on Tuesday on Long Island, according to MTA police.

It happened around 12:45 p.m. in Manorville. A taxi driver with East End Transportation was going northbound on Wading River Road when it got to the train tracks, according to authorities.

The taxi drove past the crossing gates despite them being down, with lights flashing and bells ringing to indicate that a train was coming, according to MTA police.

The vehicle then stopped on the tracks, which were near the Yaphank LIRR Station, ahead of an LIRR train traveling from Ronkonkoma to Greenport, per MTA police. The train then smashed into the car.

The driver of the taxi, identified as 49-year-old Daniel Seagren, was pronounced dead at Peconic Bay Hospital, according to MTA police. A passenger inside the taxi was airlifted to Stony Brook Hospital in serious condition.

About 50 people were on the train when it hit the taxi, per MTA police. No injuries were reported on board.