LITTLE ROCK — The driver of a car was in “very critical condition” Thursday after he tried to beat a train across the tracks at a Little Rock crossing, Little Rock police said.
Department spokesman Lt. Terry Hastings said the man, who had not been identified, suffered several injuries, including a “severe head injury,” after a 73-car train clipped the back of his 2004 Dodge Stratus.
Hastings said the stoplights were on and the crossing arms were down at the railroad crossing at South University Avenue and Forbing Road, where the man pulled to a stop in the eastbound lanes about 2 p.m.
According to witnesses, the man put his car into reverse, drove around the few cars stopped in front of him, and maneuvered through the two crossing arms and tried to cross before the northbound train arrived.
Police didn’t know the train’s speed, but the force of the impact spun the man’s car out of the crossing, through the west side arm guards and off the road.
Hastings said the man was unresponsive when paramedics pulled him from the car. He was then taken to an area hospital, Hastings said, but he was unsure of which one.
The accident, which is under investigation, blocked traffic at the crossing for much of the afternoon.
Arkansas, Pages 11 on 03/30/2012