Staff Report
An 84-year-old woman had only minor injuries but her Toyota was
demolished when, according to police reports, she ignored a
flagman, drove onto railroad tracks and was hit by a train.
The accident happened about 11 a.m. Oct. 14 in the 1900 block of
West Dartmouth Avenue.
According to the report, a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train
was headed north on the tracks that cross Dartmouth. A railroad
flagman preceded the train to Dartmouth to block traffic and, as
prescribed by railroad procedure, the train was blowing its horn as
it approached the crossing.
Reportedly, the 84-year-old driver maneuvered around the flagman
and the train hit the car as it pulled onto the tracks. The train
hit the car on the passenger side and pushed it north for about 50
feet along the tracks.
The driver was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor
injuries and she was issued a ticket for ignoring the railroad
flagman.
