A Long Island Rail Road employee was struck and killed by an LIRR train in Queens on Saturday morning, officials said.
The train hit a person west of the Queens Village station, according to the MTA. The train stopped on the tracks with passengers inside for about an hour, then the passengers were taken off through the rear exit, witnesses said.
"Initially, we just heard a big click, and then from there, they stopped the train," said Andrew Winwood, who was on the train. "We were sitting on the train for a little bit and then the first responders came through."
Westbound trains on the Hempstead Branch line were bypassing the Hollis and Queens Village stations after the person was struck, according to the MTA.
It wasn't clear why the person was on the tracks.
The National Transportation Safety Board said in a tweet that it was sending a small team to investigate the fatal accident.
Trains were delayed 15 to 20 minutes in both directions on the Ronkonkoma, Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay and Hempstead branches in both directions, the MTA said.
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In 2012, another LIRR worker was killed near the same station. He was electrocuted after coming into contact with the third rail.
