PAGE, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Three people escaped serious injury after the car they were in got stuck on a railroad crossing on Highway 38 south of Page, ND shortly after 3am on Friday, February 8th.
The following is a news release issued to the media by the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
Captain Bryan Niewind said during the early morning hours on 02/08/2019, a Mazda 3 passenger car became stuck in a snow bank on a railroad crossing on State Hwy. 38 about ½ mile south of Page on ND. The Mazda had been traveling south on Hwy. 38 when it became stuck. At approximately 3:15 am, while the three occupants of the vehicle were attempting to push the vehicle off the railroad crossing, an eastbound Burlington Northern Sante Fe train approached the railroad crossing. The personnel on the train made an emergency brake application, but the train was unable to stop. The train collided with the Mazda, throwing the vehicle into the railroad right of way east of Hwy. 38.
The three occupants of the vehicle were outside the vehicle at the time of the collision. They observed the train approaching and were able to safely move away from the Mazda before it was struck. All three were uninjured.
Two personnel on the train were also uninjured. The railroad crossing remained blocked for several hours after the crash while the investigation was conducted.
The occupants of the Mazda were:
· Jose Noel Lopes-Chavez, 20 YOA, Houston, TX – driver
· Moises Lopes-Chavez – unknown age – passenger
· Diego Rubio Rubio – unknown age – passenger
Niewind said at the time of the crash, a No Travel Advisory had been in effect for over 24 hrs. In addition, road closures of I-94 and I-29 were in effect.
The NDHP was assisted by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Page Fire Department and Page Ambulance.