An LIRR work train slammed into a Lexus that got stuck on the tracks at a crossing yesterday, killing the driver and splitting the car in half, witnesses said.
“It sounded like an explosion, and he flew out of the car,” said Mauritcio Alvardo, 24, of the accident on the Ronkonkoma line in Central Islip at about 4 p.m.
The Lexus driver — who witnesses said may have been distracted by texting — tried to back up at the last minute but couldn’t because of traffic.
“The car was almost cut in half. He landed over by the fence and he wasn’t moving; he wasn’t breathing,” Alvardo said. “He was really bad, he had blood all over his chest.”
Nearby hair-salon owner Chelas Tiza, 42, raced outside, leaving a customer sitting in a chair. She joined another woman in performing CPR on the 63-year-old victim.
After several minutes, “he did start breathing,” said Tiza.
But the unidentified victim died a short time later at Southside Hospital.