| The LIRR Main Line is straight as an arrow for 17 miles from Jamaica to Hicksville. There are not many crossings in this stretch, and most of those are in Mineola. West of Mineola, there are four. The first is Herricks Rd, where we see this westbound Port Jefferson train approaching behind an MP 15 power pack. Herricks Road was the site of one of the more infamous incidents on the LIRR. In 1982, a van with ten kids-all late teens/early 20s-was rolling toward the crossing here. The gates were down, and there was a line of cars waiting, not uncommon given that this is the only place to cross between Mineola and Merillon Av stations. The van ran around the waiting cars, and around the gates. It was hit square on by GP 38-2 265 leading a Port Jefferson train at 65 MPH. All but one of the occupants of the van died in the wreck; one was the daughter of a NY State senator. To no ones surprise, alcohol consumption by the driver was a contributing factor. |