Wednesday, March 25, 2015

BAD DRIVERS ARE ALWAYS IN A HURRY: DRIVER INVOLVED IN SUNRAIL CRASH MAY HAVE TRIED TO BEAT TRAIN












MARCH 25, 2015




MAITLAND, FLORIDA




A southbound SunRail train was involved in a crash with a Ford Freestyle in Maitland this evening.




No injuries were reported in the crash, which occurred near the tracks at Horatio and Maitland avenues at about 6:30 p.m., Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jessica Keane said.




The back end of the Ford was smashed, and there was some minor damage to the train.




Witnesses told Maitland police the driver of the Ford may have tried to beat the train by speeding through the crossing, Lt. Louis Grindle said.




The driver was not immediately cited, Grindle said.




All SunRail trains were suspended as of 7:20 p.m.




The train involved in the crash carried the 150 passengers aboard back north to Maitland station. The Ford was towed away around 7:45 p.m.




Pete Baker, one of the passengers, said some of the people on board were heading to Orlando Magic game downtown.




After the crash, the train lost power and the air conditioning went off, Baker said.




The most recent SunRail crash was reported in January, when a minivan driver tried to maneuver around lowering traffic arms as a train approached, Orlando police said at the time.




No injuries were reported in that crash. The train was stopped on the tracks at Virginia Drive and North Orange Avenue for about an hour.




The driver should have their license suspended for 10 years, and have to pay each person on the train a $1000 inconvenience fee.