BLUE MOUND, Ill. (WAND) - A man survived a close encounter with a train Friday after almost being stuck on the tracks.
Police say at 6:45 P.M. the Macon County Sheriff's Office received a call a train had struck a vehicle crossing the railroad tracks. Up arrival, deputies discovered a northbound Norfolk and Southern freight train had collided with a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe.
Through the investigation, it was determined that the Hyundai was being operated by a 59 year old Mt. Zion resident traveling southbound on Lewis St. The crew on the train advised they were traveling northbound at 50mph when the driver of the Hyundai began to cross the tracks as the crossing arms were coming down. The crew further indicated for unknown reasons, once the driver was almost across the tracks, he backed up at which time the train struck the vehicle.
Speaking with the driver, he advised as he crossed the tracks, he noticed the crossing arm coming down that blocks northbound traffic at which point he became scared that he would get stuck on the tracks and began to back up. As he was backing up, he was struck by the train.
The driver of the Hyundai was transported by Decatur Ambulance Service to Decatur Memorial Hospital for treatment of what appears to be non-life threatening injuries, specifically pelvic pain. There were no other occupants in the Hyundai and none of the train crew were injured.
While on scene, deputies and railroad officials indicated all of the advanced warning lights and gates were fully functional and operating.
The driver of the Hyundai was issued a citation for failing to stop at a railroad signal indicating approaching of a train.
All crossings in Blue Mound were blocked until approximately 8:35pm while deputies investigated the crash and rail road authorities inspected the train.
