LIRR Engineer Gets Community Service for Letting Passenger Drive

A former Long Island Rail Road engineer has pleaded guilty to official misconduct after admitting he allowed a passenger to operate a train.

Ronald Cabrera entered the guilty plea Tuesday in Nassau County Court. He was fined $500 and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.

The LIRR said in a statement that it fired Cabrera after learning of the allegations.

Cabrera admitted allowing passenger William Kutsch drive a train carrying nearly 400 riders during rush hour in July 2009. The train at times traveled at speeds of up to 80 mph.

A message left with Cabrera's lawyer was not immediately returned. Kutsch faces a reckless endangerment charge and is due in court Oct. 26.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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