Sept. 21, 2015 Staff Report
A 25-year-old man, who was allegedly drunk, drove his car for a mile on the LIRR tracks in Long Island City Sunday before his vehicle struck a third rail and burst into flames, according to MTA Police.
Ronny Mora of Corona entered onto the LIRR at the Borden Avenue railroad crossing shortly after 11 pm and continued to drive on the tracks going east for about three quarters of a mile—past the LIRR’s Hunterspoint Avenue Station, according to police.
Police said Mora abandoned his car as it smoldered and finally caught fire. He then walked back to the crossing where he told LIRR employees that he was “sorry” he had left his vehicle on the tracks.
The fire forced the MTA to suspend LIRR service between Penn Station and Jamaica for nearly three hours while the FDNY extinguished the blaze and LIRR personnel repaired the damaged third rail.
MTA Police said that Mora was charged with unlawful interference with a train, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, criminal trespassing, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident.
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