By Katy Gagnon and Ivan Pereira
The accident occurred just before noon on the eastbound track of the Long Island Rail Road in Bayside, according to a fire department spokesman. The entire train was evacuated and dozens of train riders gathered at the overpass on the east side of Bell Boulevard to watch the FDNY and MTA track workers inspect the scene.
Andrew Wong, 18, said he was waiting at the station's platform when he saw a man jump onto the tracks. One visibly disturbed train rider, who declined to give his name, said he was exiting the train when he noticed fire department officials gathered at one section of the train and saw the man's body.
Police, fire department, Metropolitan Transit Authority and LIRR officials spent nearly an hour trying to recover the man's body, which was recovered around 1 p.m., FDNY said.
Although the accident occurred on the eastbound track, the train was heading west toward Penn Station, said Susan McGowan, a LIRR spokeswoman. This track was used for trains traveling in both directions due to track work between the Bayside and Shea Stadium stations this afternoon, McGowan said.
LIRR service was suspended in both directions for 90 minutes and was restored at 1:30 p.m., McGowan said. Train customers were able to use their LIRR tickets to board the Q13 bus to Flushing and take the 7 subway, she said.
Police and the medical examiner were still investigating the incident Friday afternoon. However, several riders at the scene said they saw the man running across the tracks, apparently trying to make the train.
See the April 17 editions of the TimesLedger Newspapers for the full story.
