H # Drunk Driver’s Joyride on Train Tracks Ends in Blaze, Delays
A bizarre incident brought Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to a standstill Sunday afternoon as a drunk driver took his SUV on a chaotic joyride, ending in a fiery blaze.
The improbable scene unfolded near New York’s Elmont-UBS Arena station, where a 40-year-old man, later identified as Basilio Hidalgo, navigated his Honda SUV onto the active train tracks. He drove for approximately one kilometer before his reckless journey came to a sudden halt near the Bellerose station. A video captured by stunned witnesses shows the SUV bouncing erratically along the tracks before becoming engulfed in flames.
The Floral Park fire department responded quickly, battling the intense blaze and deploying specialized equipment, including a hydraulic lift, to extricate the damaged SUV from the tracks. Amazingly, no injuries were reported.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department (MTAPD) promptly arrived on scene, Taking Hidalgo into custody. He faces serious charges including first-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree criminal trespassing, and driving while intoxicated.
The incident caused significant disruption, halting service on the Hempstead Branch, with ripple effects impacting the Ronkonkoma, Port Jefferson, and Oyster Bay branches for several hours. Thankfully, full service was restored by 8:40 p.m.
The MTA is investigating how the vehicle gained access to the tracks. Authorities disclosed that Hidalgo accessed the tracks from ground level just west of the Elmont-UBS Arena Station, a move the MTA termed “remarkably reckless” given the proximity to heavy rail activity.
Commuters arriving delayed by the unexpected disruption expressed shock and bewilderment.
“It’s very embarrassing to be late,” one long-suffering rider commented, adding, “It can delay things and it’s dangerous. Anything can happen, I guess. It’s very unsettling. If you’re on the train, it makes you think.”
Another frustrated commuter shared, “I think anything can happen in this city but even this is pushing it.”
