iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — A Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) train carrying approximately 600 passengers derailed Saturday night east of New York City, leaving 29 people with non-life threatening injuries, officials said.
The eastbound commuter train derailed east of New Hyde Park, around 9:10 p.m., officials said.
Shortly after midnight Sunday, New York governor Andrew Cuomo tweeted, “29 total received first aid at LIRR train derailment; 11 were transported to hospitals, all minor injuries.”
Latest: 29 total received first aid at LIRR train derailment; 11 were transported to hospitals, all minor injuries. https://t.co/RZUs0XCAOC
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) October 9, 2016
Nassau County Police said the injured were taken to Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, and Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.
Governor Cuomo said in a statement, “At approximately 9:10 p.m. this evening, a train on the Long Island Rail Road was heading eastbound on the mainline when the first three cars of a 12 car train derailed about one half mile east of the New Hyde Park Station,” he said.
Cuomo continued, “Approximately 600 passengers were on board at the time of tonight’s incident. Thankfully, early reports indicate that injuries are minimal. At this time, 11 people have sustained injuries, none of which are considered to be serious.”
Nassau County Police said it recieved a call around 9 p.m. that a car or truck had slammed into a train and caused two cars of the train to derail. This happened at the Merillon Avenue, which is not a passenger stop, but an LIRR service stop.
Train service in both directions has been suspended, LIRR said.
LIRR train service is suspended in both directions between Jamaica and Hicksville due to a train derailment near New Hyde Park.
— LIRR (@LIRR) October 9, 2016
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