Former Adelphi President Christine Riordan pleads guilty to a misdemeanor and a violation in LIRR track crash

Former Adelphi University President Christine Riordan walked away from Nassau District Court on Monday with a misdemeanor conviction and still owing $140,000 after she drove her BMW sedan across the tracks of the Garden City LIRR station and crashed into the platform.

Christine Riordan, 61, who resigned from her $1 million job at the prestigious college in June, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and reckless driving — a noncriminal violation and a misdemeanor — during a morning hearing before Judge Charles McQuair in Hempstead and was ordered to pay $543 in fines.

Riordan also agreed to pay the commuter rail system for the damages the crash caused to the tracks, according to Nassau County prosecutor Tara DePalo, but has not fulfilled that requirement yet.

"Restitution to the MTA/LIRR will continue as a condition of her sentence," Nassau District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Nicole Turso said in a statement. "If the defendant does not complete her restitution payment and comply with the agreed upon conditions, she will be found in violation of those conditions and NCDA will seek appropriate remedies, including jail time."

DePalo said in court that Long Island Rail Road investigators are in communication with Riordan’s insurance company.

Prosecutors originally charged Riordan with drunken driving, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and other crimes after she drove through a metal fence at the Nassau Boulevard station around 8 p.m. on Sept. 30.

She narrowly missed pedestrians as she drove across the tracks, causing an electrical explosion before stopping at the station platform, according to court records.

Police described her as having "blood shot, glassy eyes, a strong odor of alcohol [sic] beverage emanating from breath, swaying while walking."

Riordan refused to take a Breathalyzer test, police said.

"She was confused so, and she seemed to be upset that I was asking her questions," Zsakiyah Brown, 30, an Adelphi graduate student standing on the platform when the crash happened, previously told Newsday. "I was asking her about her safety, making sure she was OK, but she didn't really like that."

Riordan, who helmed the Garden City university for 10 years before stepping down three months before the crash, also worked 137 hours of community service with the Urban League, a civil rights group, completed a New York State aggressive drivers course and a Mothers Against Drunk Driving course as part of her agreement with prosecutors, according to her defense attorney, Jason Russo, of Gaitman & Russo. He said she also underwent a review by the state Office of Addiction Services and Support, which he said determined she did not need treatment.

“The district attorney fully investigated this case,” Russo said. “They determined that there was little to no evidence of intoxication.”

The prosecutor agreed to continue with Monday’s sentencing despite the unfulfilled restitution because Riordan, through her insurance company, appeared to be cooperating with the LIRR.

“They can do what they want,” McQuair said. “But she has to cooperate.”

Under the plea agreement, Riordan’s driver’s license is not affected.

“If you guys are happy, then I’m happy,” the judge said at a bench conference before the hearing.

The LIRR did not immediately comment on the case.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated the punishment of Christine Riordan in a criminal case. Riordan pleaded guilty to one violation and one misdemeanor.