The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Source: WVLT (PHOTO: WVLT)
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:47 PM
Clinton Man In Critical Condition After Car Collides With Train In Anderson County
Tennessee Highway Patrol officers on the scene said it happened around 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Old Lake City Highway and Patterson Lane. Witnesses at the scene told THP the train was blowing its horn repeatedly but the man drove his white 2009 Jeep Commander over the crossing anyway, and the train hit his SUV.
According to THP at the scene, the man's wife was at home and went outside when the collision happened. THP said she is doing OK.
THP said the one-lane road led to the crossing, which does not have a signal or bars but does have reflective signs and yield signs signifying it is a railroad crossing.
THP public information officer Stacey Heatherly said the train deployed its emergency brake to stop. Healtherly said neither the train's conductor or engineer were injured in the incident, and there was no hazmat materials on the train. All 110 cars were empty.
According to THP, the man was the only person in the SUV. It was separated from the train and the victim was take to UT Medical Center for treatment..
On Sunday evening, a CSX spokesperson issued a statement on the incident, "Just before 5:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, a CSX train struck a passenger vehicle at a private highway-railroad grade crossing located at Patterson Lane in Lake City, TN. This train, which contained three locomotives and 110 rail cars, was traveling from South Carolina to Kentucky at the time of this incident."
"While there were no reported injuries to the train crew, the driver and sole occupant of the passenger vehicle was seriously injured. CSX personnel are cooperating with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, who are investigating this incident. CSX appreciates the swift response from all of the first responders from Anderson County Sheriff's Office and EMS and extends its thoughts to those impacted by this tragic event," the spokesperson continued.
