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The incident happened in Manorville, at the Wading River Road crossing, at around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 30.
An eastbound LIRR train was traveling from Ronkonkoma to Greenport when it struck a taxi operated by East End Transportation east of the Yaphank station, an MTA spokesperson told Daily Voice.
The taxi driver, 49-year-old Daniel Seagren, of Ronkonkoma, was pronounced dead at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead.
A passenger in the vehicle was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital in serious but stable condition, MTA Police said.
Of the 50 passengers on the double decker train at the time, nobody was injured. Affected passengers were taken to Greenport via bus.
Preliminary investigation found that the taxi drove through the lowered crossing gate, which had lights and bells activated, before stopping on the tracks ahead of the approaching train, MTA Police said.
Rail service was halted for nearly 90 minutes while emergency crews responded to the scene.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign established to cover memorial expenses for Seagren remembered him as "the most kindest, selfless, loving, and caring person who would give the shirt off his back for anyone."
He leaves behind a sister, his elderly father, several nieces and nephews, and his beloved cat, Jazzy.
"We are asking for any donations, that would be greatly appreciated, to allow his family and friends to celebrate his life and to bring him home to family," campaign creator Christine Ott said.
Those who wish to donate can do so here.
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