The Daily Inter Lake
A pickup ran into a moving freight train Friday afternoon at a railroad crossing just north of Glacier Park International Airport.
Chris Becker, 24, the driver and sole occupant of the white Toyota Tundra, suffered a skinned knuckle and a bump on the head. He declined medical treatment at the scene.
Becker was traveling eastbound on Jellison Lane just before 2 p.m. Friday when he ran into a Mission Mountain Railroad locomotive traveling southbound, parallel to U.S. 2, according to the Montana Highway Patrol.
As Becker approached the unmarked crossing, his view of the approaching train was obscured by some trees, he said. When the train came into sight, he hit the brakes, jerked the wheel to the right, and tried to send the truck into a ditch. But he ended up skidding into the locomotive and getting spun off the road. The front end of his work truck was crumpled.
"Watch unmarked railroad crossings," Becker said after the accident. "I was shook up. I'm fine now."
The 28-car train was traveling about 20 mph; Becker was going about 35 mph, according to the Highway Patrol. Witnesses to the accident didn't think the driver was going to be able to walk away from the wreck, they said.
BettyBoop
Why is this crossing unmarked? If his view was blocked,then someone needs to get out there and needs to take care of the issue. Cut the trees back. This guy is lucky. Hopefully in the future he will be more observant. The artical does not say whether he was wearing his seat belt at the time.?
MrMark
What's the difference? He's ok. Oh, put the blame where it really lies, Boop. The driver screwed up. How hard is it to see an oncoming train for cryin' out loud. If you're paying attention to driving that is. I don't have to tell you what he was doing at the time of the neglegance (no, not accident)do I? He's doing it in the picture. Talking on his stupid cell phone! 'Course, he'll tell you that he wasn't.
BettyBoop
Yes he is the one to place it on because he is the driver. But I still think that the crossing should be marked. No one should be talking on the phone while driving, with that I agree. Like I said this guy was lucky>