A Long Island taxi driver was killed by an oncoming train, after allegedly ignoring ringing bells and flashing lights to go around a crossing gate Tuesday afternoon.
MTA officials said 49-year-old Daniel Seagren died and his passenger was seriously injured in Manorville around 12:45 p.m.
Seagren and the unidentified passenger were headed north on Wading River Road when the collision occurred east of Yaphank Station.
Investigators said it appeared Seagren stopped on the tracks in front of an oncoming eastbound train carrying 50 passengers.
“The investigation has ruled out that the vehicle was stuck on the tracks prior to the gates being activated,” MTA officials told the Daily News in a statement. “This was confirmed through review of video evidence and witnesses from the scene.”
The MTA said Seagren worked for East End Transportation on Long Island.
Seagren, who’s from Ronkonkoma, was pronounced dead at Peconic Bay Hospital, while his passenger was airlifted to Stony Brook Hospital in serious condition.
“The 12:03 p.m. train from Ronkonkoma to Greenport is delayed east of Yaphank after a vehicle was struck near Wading River Road,” Long Island Rail Road officials posted on social media around the time of the collision.
Transit authorities scrambled to provide bus service for stranded commuters. No one onboard the train was reported injured.
Long Island Rail Road officials posted notice at 2:02 p.m. that service had been restored east of Ronkonkoma.