FARRINGTON, Ill. —
A car–train accident left two adults dead and three children injured Wednesday afternoon in Clark County, Illinois.
Illinois State Police at the scene said the two adults, a man and a woman, were in the front seat of the vehicle when it was struck on the passenger side by an eastbound train.
Three children who had been in the back seat of the white Pontiac Grand Am were rushed to Union Hospital in Terre Haute. Their identities and the extent of their injuries were not immediately known.
The incident took place in a remote area of northeastern Clark County, about six miles directly west of West Terre Haute and about two miles west of the Indiana-Illinois border. The car had been traveling on Fern Lake Road, which is an unpaved and winding, rural roadway.
Illinois Conservation officers notified the Illinois State Police of the incident, said Master Sgt. Kelley Hulsey of the Illinois State Police.
Other emergency responders at the scene late Wednesday afternoon included Trans-Care ambulance, the Clark County Sheriff’s Department, the Marshall Fire Department, Illinois Conservation officers and the Clark County coroner. CSX Railroad officials and equipment were also at the scene.
Emergency responders were called to the scene a little before 5 p.m. EST.
There were child-restraining seats in the back seat of the vehicle, but it is not known in what way they were used or which children were in what seats, Hulsey said. The woman who was killed was the driver of the car and the man who was killed was in the passenger seat, police said.
As of about 6 p.m. EST, the train, which had been traveling east, was still at the scene. The train’s cars had been detached at the Fern Lake Road crossing to allow emergency crews easier access to the car.
The car came to rest on the north side of the tracks about 100 feet from the crossing, which is marked but does not have crossing arms.
It was not known how fast the train was traveling, Hulsey said, adding that the crash remains under investigation. Toxicology testing was expected to take place today, he said.
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Fatality: Illinois State police Sgt. Kelley Hulsey takes notes before the wrecker arrives Wednesday February 22, 2012. Hulsey was at the scene of a double fatality car-train accident on east Fern Lake road in northeastern Clark county.
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Fatal decision: Emergency personnel use a sheet to shield the car involved in a fatal car-train accident Wednesday afternoon on East Fern Lake road in northeastern Clark County Illinois.
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Details: Illinois State police Sgt. Kelley Hulsey measures the distance from the East Fern Lake Road crossing to the vehicle involved in a fatal car-train accident Wednesday afternoon. The vehicle was thrown about 200 feet after being struck by the eastbound train.
Discussion
Adults killed, 3 children hospitalized after train, car collide in Clark County
No crossing arms in place on unpaved, rural road
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