Drunk Driver Crashes Car Onto LIRR Tracks, Sparking Fire

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A 29-year-old man from Port Washington, New York was arrested and charged with three counts of driving while intoxicated after his vehicle was found burning on the Long Island Rail Road tracks in Farmingdale early Tuesday morning. Police responded to reports of the vehicle fire around 1:15 a.m. and were able to extinguish the flames before 3 a.m., but not before the incident caused delays on the Ronkonkoma branch of the LIRR.

Why it matters

Drunk driving incidents that result in property damage or disruptions to public transportation services are an ongoing concern for law enforcement and transportation officials on Long Island. This case highlights the risks posed by impaired drivers and the need for continued vigilance and enforcement to keep roads and rail lines safe.

The details

According to police, officers responded to reports of a vehicle on fire at the Long Island Rail Road station at Melville Road and South Front Street in Farmingdale around 1:15 a.m. on Tuesday, February 10th. They found a white Subaru actively burning on the tracks, which firefighters were able to extinguish just before 3 a.m. The driver, identified as 29-year-old Jorge Ferrer Hidalgo of Port Washington, was located nearby and taken into custody without incident. Hidalgo was charged with three counts of driving while intoxicated.

• The incident occurred around 1:15 a.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
• Firefighters had the flames under control just before 3 a.m.

What’s next

Hidalgo is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday at First District Court in Hempstead.