A westbound Long Island Rail Road train approaching the station in East Hampton Village struck a car around 7:20 Friday morning at the Newtown Lane and Railroad Avenue crossing, causing massive traffic snarls but no injuries.
Brooke Kroeger of East Hampton was driving her car south and attempted to cross the downed railroad gates on her way to Citarella, she told police.
The rear end of her car suffered substantial damage, but she was unhurt, according to Jeff Erickson, the village police chief. Staff from Hampton Chutney, near the intersection, took water to her as she sat on a bench in front of the shop following the crash.
"The train has completely blocked the road," Mayor Jerry Larsen said by phone shortly after the accident. "It's a complete traffic nightmare. We have four railroad crossings in the village, the only one that's working is at Osborne Lane."
Village police removed the passengers from the train; the Metropolitan Transportation Authority was expected to send buses to retrieve them.
"East Hampton Village police are currently assisting with traffic direction and holding the scene until the M.T.A. police arrive. We're going to allow them to handle the report and do their investigation, but they're about an hour and a half out," he said around 8:15 a.m.
By 8:40 that morning M.T.A. police had arrived on the scene and given the okay for the train to head west.
It was not immediately clear if it would be taken out of service or continue with its regular schedule.
With Reporting by Durell Godfrey
