Crime & Safety

LIRR Derailment: 29 Hurt After Collison With Work Train

All injuries are considered minor after train derails in Nassau County.

Twenty-nine people were injured when a Long Island Rail Road train derailed after striking a work train near Merillon Avenue station in Garden City Saturday night, authorities said.

Three cars of the 12-car train, which was carrying about 600 passengers, derailed at 9:10 p.m., about a half mile east of the New Hyde Park station, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. Eleven passengers were taken to the hospital. The others were treated at the scene.

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"Thankfully, early reports indicate that injuries are minimal," Cuomo said.

The train involved was the 8:22 p.m. from Penn Station due in Huntington at 9:28 p.m.

Find out what's happening in New Hyde Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Ray Martel, an associate producer for WOR 710, was on the train and he tweeted that firefighters had indicated that several people may have suffered broken bones and concussions.

LIRR service is currently suspended in both directions on the Ronkonkoma, Oyster Bay and Port Jefferson branches.

"Staff from the MTA and the LIRR are on the scene and will work around the clock to determine the cause of this derailment and restore service as quickly as possible," Cuomo said.

Videos posted on social media show passengers climbing down a ladder to get off the derailed train.

The derailment comes a week after a New Jersey Transit train crashed at the Hoboken terminal, killing a woman and injuring more than 100 others.

Photos: Twitter/Sarah Qamar

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