Elderly woman hospitalized after LIRR train hits SUV in East Rockaway

EAST ROCKAWAY (WABC) -- Long Island Rail Road service has been restored on the Long Beach Branch in both directions between Valley Stream and Long Beach after a train struck an unauthorized vehicle on the tracks in East Rockaway.

The incident happened just west of the Centre Avenue station.

Witness say the driver was an elderly woman who ignored the warning signals.

She was taken to South Nassau Communities Hospital, where she was being treated for back and neck injuries. The injury is not believed to be life threatening.

It appears the train, which was not moving very fast because it had just left the station, pushed the vehicle to the side.

The investigation revealed that the gates and signals were working properly.

It is unknown what the woman was doing on the tracks.