Former Adelphi president faces escalated DUI charges in LIRR station collision

The former president of Adelphi University, Christine Riordan, who is accused of driving drunk and crashing at a Long Island Rail Road station, is now facing more serious felony charges. Riordan, who avoided looking at cameras during her recent court appearance, has been accused by prosecutors of narrowly avoiding causing harm to commuters when her car allegedly drove onto train tracks and sparked an electrical explosion. Riordan has pleaded not guilty and her defense claims that the car malfunctioned, contending that she was not intoxicated at the time of the incident. The criminal complaint states that her BMW surged through a parking lot, broke through a steel fence, and ended up on the third rail at Nassau Boulevard station in Garden City on September 30. It is uncertain if Riordan will be held responsible for damages caused to the LIRR station, tracks, and vehicles hit during the crash. Despite stepping down from her position as university president, Riordan still resides in the university's Tudor home. Adelphi University has stated the matter is personal and unrelated to the institution. Future court proceedings are scheduled, with students expressing surprise and concern over the details of the incident, given Riordan's past connection to the university.