New York State Public Transportation Safety Board Rail Safety Section Abbreviated Report Case Number: 9600
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NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD RAIL SAFETY SECTION ABBREVIATED REPORT CASE NUMBER: 9600 DATE OF ACCIDENT: December 13, 2007 CARRIER: MTA –Long Island Rail Road TYPE OF ACCIDENT: Grade Crossing ACCIDENT SYNOPSIS: At 2:51 p.m. on Thursday, December 13, 2007, LIRR train #2709 departed Montauk Station. The train, operated by an engineer, conductor, assistant conductor, and ticket collector, consisted of six bi-level coach cars and one locomotive. As the westbound train approached the Gleason Drive grade crossing in East Quogue, New York, the engineer reported seeing a vehicle without its lights on obstructing the tracks. The engineer repeatedly sounded the train’s horn and placed the train’sbrakes in emergency but could not avoid striking the automobile on the crossing. According to police reports, at approximately 4:06 p.m., the driver stated that while traveling northbound on Gleason Drive the vehicle skidded on the slick roadway and slid off the east end of the crossing pad surface becoming stuck. The driver claimed he attempted to free the stuck vehicle for approximately ten minutes but was unsuccessful. When the driver heard the horn of the approaching train, he exited the vehicle and moved a safe distance away. The vehicle was struck and knocked approximately forty feet across the crossing striking the signal case on the southwest side of the crossing and came to rest. The speed of the train at the time of the impact was estimated to be 55 MPH. Damage to rail equipment was minimal and consisted of damage to the brake piping, step ladder, snow plow and brake hoses. When the investigation was completed, the engineer recharged the train from the locomotive and proceeded west under its own power at 4:52 pm. The train arrived at Speonk Station at 5:32 pm where approximately 120 passengers were discharged. Passengers were handled by bus from Speonk Station for all points west to Babylon Station. The train was placed out of service at Speonk Station and underwent a post accident inspection and brake test by LIRR Maintenance of Equipment car inspectors. There were no reported injuries to any passengers or crew. The automobile was a total loss and was removed by a flat bed tow truck. Post accident testing of the grade crossing warning devices conducted by Long Island Rail Road Signal Department personnel on the evening of the accident revealed that all railroad crossing warning devices were operating as intended at the time of the accident. Investigating police agencies did not issue any summons to the driver of the automobile. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were reported as a mixture of rain and snow with temperatures near or below freezing. PTSB staff believes weather did play a role in this accident. The Public Transportation Safety Board staff finds that the most probable cause of this accident was the automobile driver losing control of the vehicle due to inclement weather conditions. Based on these reported facts, the Public Transportation Safety Board staff makes no recommendations regarding this accident. NAME OF INVESTIGATOR: Jean-Paul Paraskevas DATE SUBMITTED: 01/10/2008 SIGNATURE: ___________________________________ Jerry Shook Rail Safety Bureau.