Video captured by a security camera may help answer questions about the deadly crash between a LIRR train and a passenger car Friday in Central Islip.
Adolfo Munoz, 65, was killed in the crash. The Brentwood father of four was heading home from a family car dealership just blocks from the LIRR crossing.
His family has raised questions about whether the LIRR crossing gates were working properly the day of the crash, claiming some have described them malfunctioning earlier in the day.
But the video, shot by a security camera mounted outside an appliance store across the street, shows the crossing gates falling into place, seconds before the crash.
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"Preliminary findings indicate the crossing gates were functioning as intended at the time," LIRR spokesman Sal Arena said in a statement.
The owner of a building supply store just across from the crash scene agreed there was no problem with the crossing gates that day, but Victor Palmieri said there have been issues before that.
"A couple of months ago there were problems with the gates coming down slow," Palmieri said.
The video shows Munoz's car stopping along the tracks. It's unclear if he drove under or around the crossing gates, but at one point, he begins to back up his car before being hit by the train.
"He was really happy, really happy before this happened," said his nephew, Edson Zambrano.
Munoz, a retired car salesman, often spent time at his family's business to watch the news or soccer games with his brother, a family member said.
Munoz came to the U.S. from Colombia around 1980. He leaves six grandchildren and one great grandchild.
