Train vs Car Crash

Posted on 08/09/2022

DATE: AUGUST 9, 2022
SUBJECT: TRAIN VS. CAR CRASH
AUTHORITY: LIEUTENANT RYAN HERMAN

On today’s date, August 9th, at 5:39 a.m., the Washington County Sheriff’s Communications Center received a call from a witness of a train vs. car crash. The crash occurred on the Canadian National (CN) Railway located at the crossing of Hwy DW near Ohio Road in the town of Addison. Prior to sheriff’s office arrival, the communications center contacted CN and advised them of the vehicle striking a car near the end of their train. CN was not aware of the crash but did stop immediately after our notification was made.

Upon sheriff’s office arrival, the operator and sole occupant of the involved vehicle, had extricated himself and was sitting roadside. Sheriff personnel and bystanders provided medical treatment/assessment until Allenton Fire and Rescue arrived, taking over care.

Through witness conversation and scene investigation, it was apparent that at the time of crash this area had and was still experiencing heavy dense fog. Both our witness and the involved car were operating eastbound on Hwy DW. The witness was stopped at the crossing when he observed the involved vehicle approaching him from behind at a high speed. To prevent a rear end collision with the witness, the operator of our crash vehicle made an evasive right turn maneuver into the gravel ditch. It continued east avoiding the stopped witness vehicle but struck one of the last cars of the northbound train. The witness immediately contacted our communications center with crash information until we arrived.

This appears to have been an avoidable crash had the operator reduced his speed to operate safely in the dense fog. The railway warning lights and stop arm were reported to have been working as designed.

The operator is a town of Addison man and at the time of this release, was in stable condition at a local hospital.