COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP, Mich. — An Amtrak train slammed into an empty car Monday morning. Deputies said the driver fled the car minutes before the collision occurred.
"About 10:45 this morning a vehicle was traveling southbound and due to the road conditions was unable to stop," said Kalamazoo County Undersheriff James VanDyken. "[It] then slid through the intersection and became lodged on the railroad tracks here at East Michigan."
The Kalamazoo County Sheriff Office said in a statement that the driver of vehicle was heading south on Leenhouts and couldn't stop at the stop sign on E. Michigan Avenue. When her 2009 Impala got stuck on the tracks, other drivers stopped and a nearby resident warned them that a train was coming her way.
"Depending on the speed of the train it takes a long time for them to stop," said Undersheriff VanDyken. "They were unable to do anything about it and unfortunately struck the vehicle but fortunately no one was hurt."
Amtrak's corporate office said the train, which was coming from Port Huron, was delayed for over three hours. No one was injured in the crash but all 100 passengers were off-loaded after it occurred. The driver of the Impala received a ticket for failure to stop at a stop sign. Deputies say alcohol and drugs were not factors in the crash.
"This isn’t the first time that something has happened at this intersection," said Undersheriff VanDyken. "Over the years we’ve had vehicles that have come lodged on the railroad tracks too. So it's not unheard of but hopefully it doesn’t happened again."
This video was shared by Trent's Towing shortly after the crash. (Warning - strong language.)
We'll have more on later editions of FOX 17 News.
