A serious accident that occurred on Franklin Avenue near Sixth Street last week saw a car strike the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) grade crossing ultimately taking it down. The accident caused service disruptions on the LIRR’s Hempstead branch, suspending it temporarily.
According to the Garden City Police Department, a car traveling down Franklin Avenue southbound struck another car at the intersection of Stewart Avenue, continued past Seventh Street when it overturned near Sixth Street. Not only was the grade crossing destroyed, but the car also hit a tree, which had to be taken down by the village, and lamp posts. Car parts were strewn around Franklin Avenue, which was shut down between Sixth and Seventh streets.
Firefighters and Nassau County PD Emergency Services assisted the department in the extrication of the female driver who was trapped inside. The driver, who suffered an apparent medical episode before the crash, was transported to a local hospital with multiple injuries. A bystander struck by debris was also transported to a local hospital for head injuries. The department ordered all train service stopped on the Hempstead Line due to damage to the train tracks and the grade crossing. In addition, a vehicle traveling northbound on Franklin Avenue and a nearby office building were damaged by crash debris.