By Heather Harrington
A woman and girl who were driving in a sports utility vehicle, were injured Tuesday when the car flipped over onto Long Island Railroad tracks in East Rockaway.
The accident occurred around 8:40 a.m. near the intersection of Rocklyn Avenue and Forest Avenue, close to the Centre Avenue platform. The driver of the SUV suffered a medical condition causing her to lose control and hit two parked cars. The SUV then hit an LIRR fence and a utility pole, causing the truck to flip onto the roof and come to rest onto its driver’s side on the tracks, Nassau police said.
Five trains on the Long Beach line were cancelled; MTA buses were there shuttling passengers along the commuter route between Valley Stream and Long Beach.
Several homes lost power due to a utility pole being smashed. LIPA workers responded to the scene to help restore the area’s electric service. They were joined by MTA and LIRR staff.
The victims, said to be a woman and child, were taken to South Nassau Communities Hospital, after members of the East Rockaway Fire Department used the Jaws of Life to free the woman. The girl managed to free herself from the mangled vehicle.
Both victims were wearing their seatbelts and are expected to survive.