DEKALB CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department says that alcohol may have been a factor in a crash involving a truck and a train Sunday night. The train’s driver says the woman driving the truck seemed to intentionally drive into the train.
A train conductor reported that a Chevy Silverado, driven by 55-year-old Carolyn Honaker, of Kendallville, was stopped at the tracks in the 4300 block of CR 6.
According to police, the conductor said he heard the engine rev on the truck and then saw it drive around the crossing gate before crashing into the train car he was standing on.
Police said the train was going around seven mph at the time of the collision.
Honaker was cut from her seatbelt and was transported to an area hospital in serious condition. The crash remains under investigation.
The following was issued by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department:
Personal injury accident involving a truck vs train. Police cut the driver’s seatbelt and extracted her from the vehicle. She was transported to an area hospital in serious condition. After speaking with the train conductor it was determined that the truck was stopped at the railroad tracks in the 4300 block of CR 61 facing north when a train was moving through. The conductor advised he heard the engine rev on the truck. He then observed the truck drive around the crossing gate and crash into the train car that he was standing on. The train was reported to be moving at about 7 mph during the collision.
Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash. No other information will be released pending further investigation.
The DeKalb Co. Sheriff’s Department was assisted by Butler Police Department, Parkview EMS, Butler Fire Department, Norfolk & Southern Police, and C. Noels Auto.
