Man injured in train mishap
Published 5:00 am Monday, June 9, 2008
A Brookhaven man was injured in a collision with a freight trainat a rural Lincoln County crossing Sunday morning, officialssaid.
Jimmy R. Arrington, 63, was driving his silver Chevrolet stationwagon when he attempted to cross the tracks on Wroten Lane around11:20 a.m. Sunday. Officials said Arrington may not have heard thetrain coming.
Arrington was taken by ambulance to Kings Daughters MedicalCenter, where he is currently resting in stable condition.Responders on the scene said he was able to get out of the vehicleon his own and was on his feet outside the car when helparrived.
Sheriff Steve Rushing said Arrington also may not have expectedthere to be a train crossing at that time. The crossing does nothave heavy traffic, he said.
“It’s just not a very heavily used spur, that I’m aware of,” hesaid.
Officials on the scene said the train was traveling atapproximately 30 miles per hour. It impacted the driver’s side ofArrington’s vehicle, just in front of the front wheel well.
Rushing said there has not been an accident on that section oftrack that he can remember.
“I’m trying to think of any on that spur, but I know I can’tremember any at that crossing,” he said.
Rushing said his department usually only works one to two trainwrecks a year. With the recent rash of train wrecks statewide,including two involving AMTRAK passenger trains in neighboringcounties, Rushing encouraged motorists to be more aware whencrossing the tracks.
“People need to be careful at train crossings,” he said.