Jury finds LIRR negligent in Brentwood crossing death case

A Suffolk County jury found the Long Island Rail Road negligent in the 2013 Brentwood crossing crash that killed Blanca Maldonado and Jose Adolfo Reyes, leading to a $2.9 million settlement for their family. The verdict also backed the family’s long-standing claim that the victims did not drive around lowered safety gates.

Why it matters: - The verdict gives the Maldonado family a legal finding that contradicts the long-standing public claim that Blanca Maldonado drove around lowered crossing gates. - The $2.9 million settlement follows more than a decade of dispute over who was responsible for the fatal 2013 crash. - The case raises broader questions about rail crossing safety systems and how crash evidence is evaluated.

What happened: - A Suffolk County jury found the Long Island Rail Road negligent in the Brentwood grade crossing crash. - The family of Blanca Maldonado and Jose Adolfo Reyes secured a $2.9 million settlement after the verdict. - Maldonado, 45, and Reyes, 74, were killed on Jan. 22, 2013, when an eastbound LIRR train hit their vehicle at the 2nd Street grade crossing in Brentwood. - The family was represented by Christopher R. Dean and Kristen N. Sinnott of Dell & Dean PLLC.

The details: - The case centered on whether the crossing safety system was working properly when the crash happened. - During trial, Dean and Sinnott argued the gates did not come down before Maldonado entered the crossing. - The family’s attorneys pointed to a motorist driving behind Maldonado who said in a 911 call that the gates were up, the lights were off and the bells were not ringing. - The attorneys also challenged the railroad’s reliance on crossing event recorder data. - They cited a timing discrepancy between the crossing data and the train’s black box record. - The case was filed under Index # 070803/2014. - Dean said the verdict was about accountability and restoring Blanca Maldonado’s good name. - Sinnott said the family endured a long and painful fight after an unimaginable loss.

Between the lines: - The jury’s finding shifts the narrative from alleged driver error to possible railroad failure. - The verdict suggests jurors found the family’s evidence more credible than the railroad’s account. - The outcome may matter to other rail crossing negligence disputes where equipment records and eyewitness accounts conflict.

What's next: - The settlement closes a yearslong legal fight for the Maldonado family. - Dell & Dean PLLC said it continues to represent clients in personal injury, negligence and wrongful death matters on Long Island. - The firm also says it handles serious personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, construction accident and negligence cases.