Investigations

On March 16, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York issued a criminal complaint charging Stuart Conklin, a former signal inspector for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Long Island Railroad (LIRR), with knowingly and willfully making a false entry in an inspection report maintained by LIRR in part to comply with rules and regulations enforced by FRA. As alleged in the complaint, on May 25, 2019, the front of an eastbound train sideswiped the rear of a westbound train resulting in a collision that led to the derailment of both trains. The complaint further alleged that in April 2019, Conklin falsely reported that he inspected a rail bond that was later found to be the cause of the accident. The Signal Department of LIRR determined that the accident was caused by a signal failure due to the broken rail bond.

 

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with Metropolitan Transportation Authority-OIG.

 

Note: Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.