Woman hospitalized after car-train crash in Ann Arbor Township
The railroad crossing where a car crashed into a train Friday morning.
Kyle Feldscher | AnnArbor.com
Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional information from firefighters.
A woman was hospitalized Friday morning after a car and train collided in Ann Arbor Township, firefighters said.
Ann Arbor Township Fire Capt. Doug Eder said the woman’s compact car was knocked or dragged away from the intersection in the crash and was in a ditch when firefighters arrived.
She was pinned in the car wreckage. Firefighters freed her, and Huron Valley Ambulance paramedics took her to the University of Michigan Hospital.
The crash, which was reported about 6 a.m., closed Pontiac Trail between Warren and Dhu Varren roads for more than an hour as police investigated. The road was reopened shortly before 7:30.
Eder said the area where the crash occurred is a train switching area. The railroad crossing has no gate, but does have a signal, he said.
No further information about the crash was immediately available.
Check back for updates on this story.
View Car-train crash in a larger map
Cindy Heflin is associate news director at AnnArbor.com. Contact her at 734-623-2572 or cindyheflin@annarbor.com or follow her on Twitter.
Comments
Ann English
Sat, Sep 22, 2012 : 11:28 p.m.
If another comment poster is right about the Ann Arbor Railroad being a small operation and apparently very budget-minded, then apparently the owners of rail lines determine how simple or complex the warning devices at their lines' crossings are, not the cities or townships the rail lines pass through. I can't imagine gates installed for this freight- train-only line where it crosses Traver, Dhu Varren, Warren or Joy Roads. The Norfolk Southern Railroad has both passenger and freight trains run on it and crosses over fewer dirt roads in the area than the AAR does. The East Delhi Road crossing has many houses near it, and is the only dirt road crossing for the NS line I know of.
Ann English
Sat, Sep 22, 2012 : 11:04 p.m.
This particular track is for freight trains only. The next crossing north for this rail line is marked only with signs, but I would expect drivers' education courses today to teach future drivers about these crossings marked only with signs, no lights, bells, or gates. It was taught in courses years ago. The first crossing I ever saw with gates is at Zeeb Road. That railroad track is for both freight and passenger trains. More crossings along that track have gates today, and sometimes the gates stay down when no train is on its way, so all vehicles go around the gates safely.
Brad
Fri, Sep 21, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.
And we wonder why pedestrian crossings are a problem.
ribs1
Fri, Sep 21, 2012 : 12:41 p.m.
Very sorry this happened. I wonder why there are any railroad crossings without gates?
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Sep 21, 2012 : 2:30 p.m.
Why should railroad crossings have gates, especially on this railroad where the trains reach speeds as blazingly fast as 25 mph? If the lights are flashing, you stop. What's so hard about that?
Billy
Fri, Sep 21, 2012 : 12:49 p.m.
There are gateless crossings all over the place...usually outside of city limits. There SHOULDN'T be gates at any crossings. Lights are more than ample enough warning. The ONLY reason we have gates is because there's such a large segment of the population that will defy the warning lights....and even then I'll watch people go around the gates... This crossing is well lit, and even though the road curves a bit where the tracks cross, you can see the lights from a distance in both directions. I guess I should ask....were the lights function at this crossing at the time?