June 13, 2011 – Indianapolis, Ind. – A drunk driver injured himself and 3 other people when his car collided with a train on the Westside of Indianapolis on Saturday. According to a report at the Indianapolis Star, the driver is facing charges of DUI, causing bodily injuries, driving with a suspended license, and fleeing the scene of an accident.
Police say the driver, a 22-year-old man, was stopped at a railroad crossing near Jackson Street and South Lynhurt Drive when he attempted to drive around the lowered safety gates shortly before 4 p.m. His Oldsmobile sedan was then hit by a CSX train. Police say the driver attempted to flee the scene on foot, but was caught by police near the crash site.
Investigators said a train had already passed on the eastbound tracks, so the driver may have thought the tracks were clear and didn’t realize that another train was approaching on the westbound tracks.
The driver had 4 passengers in the car, 2 of them being ejected from his vehicle. The victims include a 21-year-old man, 19-year-old woman and a juvenile who hasn’t been identified. Police haven’t said how seriously the victims were injured. The driver is currently receiving treatment at IU Methodist Hospital.
As a service to the residents of Indianapolis and the surrounding areas, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in Indiana that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.
Common Indianapolis accidents include, but are not limited to:
- single-car accidents;
- accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
- accidents caused by distracted drivers or aggressive driving.
If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim’s family member or friend and would like the blog posting removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.