While the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police believe two men were hit by a Long Island Rail Road train last Saturday, the East Hampton Village Police reported that only one of them suffered the train's impact.
According to a police report released on Wednesday, Wilson Lucero, 44, of Mastic was found highly intoxicated" with his right foot severed after being struck by the eastbound train. Marvin Sazo-Batzin, 39, who police identified as a resident of Riverhead, "appeared not to be struck" by the train but was also "highly intoxicated."
ORIGINAL STORY
A Long Island Rail Road train struck two men shortly after leaving the East Hampton Village train station on Saturday afternoon, severely injuring one of them.
A Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesperson said on Saturday that the men were hit at 2:40 p.m. by an eastbound train about a half mile east of the East Hampton train station and just west of the North Main Street overpass. The train had left Jamaica at 12:10 p.m.
East Hampton Village Police Chief Michael Tracey on Monday identified the men as Wilson Lucero, 44, of Mastic and Marvin Sazo-Batzin, 39, whose address was unknown.
Chief Tracey said that Village Police responded to the incident at approximately 2:45 p.m. and noted that it took place east of Osborne Lane in an area “off limits to pedestrians.”
Mr. Lucero was found with an “obvious foot injury,” according to Chief Tracey, and was “highly impaired.” Mr. Sazo-Batzin was found shortly afterward on the edge of the wooded right of way. He also was “highly impaired,” according to the chief.
Mr. Lucero was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital, while Mr. Sazo-Batzin was taken to Southampton Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Mr. Lucero was listed as in serious condition at Stony Brook on Tuesday.
Aaron Donovan of the LIRR said MTA investigators responded to the scene to investigate the incident. On Monday, he reiterated that the incident was still under investigation and said he could not offer “insight” as to why the two men were near the train tracks to begin with.
“Alcohol may have played a role in both cases,” Mr. Donovan said in an email on Tuesday. “We believe both individuals attempted to get out of the way of the train. We’ll have more to say when the investigation concludes.”
“It could have been much worse,” Chief Tracey noted.
The train involved in the accident was due to arrive in Montauk at 3:01 p.m. Mr. Donovan said it was the only scheduled train affected by the accident.
"