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MILFORD - A Milford teen-ager is in critical condition this morning after his car was struck Wednesday afternoon by a train on CR 1150N, east of Old Ind. 15, near Milford.
Patrick A. Dickinson, 19, of East North Street, was unconscious when he was airlifted from the scene to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne. Dickinson, who was wearing the automatic chest belt in his car but not the lap belt, suffered internal injuries in the 2:11 p.m. accident.
According to a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department press release, Dickinson was westbound on CR 1150N when he failed to stop at the Norfolk Southern Railroad crossing. There are warning sign crossbucks and a stop sign at the crossing and the southbound train's headlight, horn and bell were all activated, police said.
Both the conductor of the train and the engineer told police they saw the car approaching from the east and both men also saw the driver look south, but not north, prior to the collision. The two railroad employees also told police that Dickinson did not stop at the stop sign.
The 96-car train was traveling about 35 miles per hour when it collided with Dickinson's car. The car was struck in the passenger side and, upon impact, was thrown to the west side of the railroad crossing.
The accident remains under investigation.
