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MENTONE - A car that reportedly went around downed railroad crossing gates was struck by a westbound train Tuesday night and its driver was ejected.
Natasha Heiman, 17, of North Thompson Street, Bourbon, suffered a head injury and multiple abrasions in the 8:05 p.m. accident in Mentone.
Mentone Town Marshal Jim Eads said eyewitnesses told police that Heiman's was the second of two vehicles to cross the tracks around the gates. The first vehicle cleared the crossing, but the second vehicle was struck in the driver's side door. The impact threw the car sideways and rolled it over into a NIPSCO substation fence.
Heiman was thrown from the vehicle, against the fence and into a graveled area near the train tracks. She was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw, before being airlifted to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne. After being treated at Parkview, including receiving 10 staples to close a head wound, Heiman was released from the hospital about 3:30 a.m.
The 27-car train was moving at approximately 50 mph at the time of the accident. The impact also resulted in a NIPSCO meter base being sheared off and the car came to rest on top of downed power lines.
