Passenger Trains > Amtrak 370 - vehicle hit in MI with 1 fatality

Though a "typical" tragic vehicle hit the part of this story I'd like to point out is this excerpt from the news report:

"Amtrak also gave passengers water and snacks during the delay. Many passengers told 24-Hour News 8 Amtrak was extremely helpful by providing up to date information about what was going on, and how the passengers would reach their destination cities."

Good job Amtrak!

Full story:

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/sw_mich/Amtrak-train-involved-in-crash

South Bend Tribute writes about this crash:

> Police said (driver) Zellmer had just turned east onto 52nd Avenue from C.R. 687, when he drove
> around the track’s lowered crossing arms and into the path of the oncoming train.

> The Amtrak was traveling 65 mph when its crew saw Zellmer’s car and activated the train’s
> emergency brake. The train couldn’t avoid hitting Zellmer’s car and pushing it a considerable distance, police said.

> The train did have working bells, lights and whistles and the crossing’s lights and control arms were operating at
> the time of the crash.

A photo on their site shows the aftermath. It looks like the coupler on the cab car impaled the auto, right into the
passenger compartment.

Trading a few seconds for infinity...not a good choice.

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/sbt-coloma-teen-killed-when-his-car-collides-with-train-20110914,0,3748645.story



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/11 09:31 by GenePoon.

Cab car into the passenger compartment ?

Wouldn't that be the Cabbage unit into its cab ?

I think they mean the "Passenger Compartment" of the Automobile.

Ryan

Posted from BlackBerry

very sad ... i can only say with his poor decision making he paid the ultimate price that hopefully will serve as a valuable teaching lesson for others teens who were acquainted with him and others who are aware of his fatal circumstance

Killing yourself to save 15 seconds, so many folks apparently think it's worth it