(Edinburgh, Indiana – November 6, 2017)
An as-yet unidentified female motorist received undisclosed injuries early Monday afternoon about 12:30 P.M., EST, when her eastbound car was struck and totaled by a northbound Louisville & Indiana Railroad freight train. The collision took place at the non-gated crossing of East Main Cross Street and L&IRR tracks in Edinburgh, IN.
The car was mangled beyond repair and trapped the victim inside its twisted framework until Edinburgh FD firefighters were able to pry the motorist from the wreckage.
“The crossing does not have arms that stop traffic when a train is approaching,” wrote Daily Journal Reporter Jacob Tellers, who also indicated the crossing, where one earlier collision occurred under previous operator Conrail , was equipped with flashing lights. According to records kept by the Federal Railroad Administration, a daily average of 8 L&IRR and CSX freight trains traverse the crossing at a maximum allowable speed of 49 mph. It is unclear if the lights were flashing or operating correctly at the time of the collision.
The woman was transported to Johnson County Memorial Health Hospital for treatment of her wreck-related injuries.
