Three killed in New York train-vehicle collision

Three people were killed after two commuter trains travelling in opposite directions collided with a vehicle on the tracks in New York state.

Westbury: Two commuter trains travelling in opposite directions collided with a vehicle on the tracks in New York state on Tuesday evening, according to officials.

The crash killed all three occupants in the vehicle before one of the trains derailed and tore into a concrete platform in Westbury, a village on Long Island, officials said.

Governor Andrew Cuomo called for a "full investigation into the collision," which also sent seven people on the trains to local hospitals with non-fatal injuries and forced the evacuation of nearly 1,000 passengers and crew on the two trains.

Long Island Rail Road President Phillip Eng said the vehicle went around the grade crossing and was struck by the train that was leaving Westbury station. He said the gates at the crossing were properly functioning.

A westbound train travelling toward Westbury then struck the vehicle, he said. The vehicle was pushed and that's when the front two cars of the westbound train came off the rails, Eng said.

Local TV news helicopter video showed the train cars standing upright after the wreck, but with the forward cars off the rails.