Massapequa Family Devastated as 17-Year-Old Daughter Killed by LIRR Train

A 17-year-old girl from Massapequa was killed Monday afternoon after being struck by a Long Island Rail Road train at the Massapequa station, MTA Police confirmed. The incident sent shockwaves through the South Shore community and caused significant delays along one of the railroad’s busiest commuter lines during the afternoon rush.

The tragedy unfolded at approximately 2:33 p.m. when LIRR Train 163, a westbound service running from Babylon to Penn Station, struck the teenager on the tracks.

Nassau County emergency medical technicians responded to the scene and pronounced the girl dead at 2:55 p.m., just 22 minutes after the collision occurred. She was not authorized to be on the tracks, according to MTA officials.

Walnut Grove High School Standout and UK Football Player Nicholas “Nic” Smith, 20, Passes Away, Leaving His Family!!!

There were no injuries reported among the roughly 150 passengers aboard the train at the time. All passengers were safely removed from the railway cars following the incident, the MTA said.

MTA Police launched an immediate investigation, reviewing surveillance video and collecting witness statements from those present at the station.

Based on preliminary findings, investigators said Monday evening that no criminality is suspected, though the investigation remains ongoing. The Nassau County Police Department also responded to assist MTA Police at the scene.

Delays Ripple Through Babylon Branch During Rush Hour

The collision temporarily shut down one of the tracks along the Babylon Branch, triggering a cascade of delays affecting commuters traveling in both directions during one of the most heavily trafficked periods of the day.

The Babylon Branch serves communities stretching along the South Shore of Nassau and Suffolk counties and carries thousands of riders between Long Island and New York City each weekday.

According to the MTA, delays stretched beyond one hour at certain points following the incident. Among the trains most affected were the 3:17 p.m.

Penn Station to Babylon service, which ran 15 to 20 minutes behind schedule, and the 3:45 p.m. Penn Station to Massapequa train, delayed by 10 to 15 minutes.

The 3:43 p.m. Babylon to Penn Station train was also reported running 15 to 20 minutes late. Service in both directions was restored shortly before 4 p.m., and by approximately 5:15 p.m., trains were running on or close to their regular schedules.

The MTA described the incident in service advisories as involving an unauthorized person on the track, language the railroad commonly uses when someone who is not a railroad employee is found on or near active tracks.

The train involved in the strike, carrying its passengers, was safely detrained at the Massapequa station following the collision, while emergency personnel worked at the scene.

The identity of the teenager has not been publicly released. As of Monday evening, no additional details about the circumstances surrounding her presence on the tracks had been shared by investigators.

The death adds to a painful reality for the Long Island Rail Road and surrounding communities, where track fatalities have prompted ongoing conversations about railroad safety, mental health resources, and the dangers of unauthorized access to active rail corridors.

Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the MTA Police Department.