Man dies in accident after crossing road in front of freight train | News

CORNISH — A 40-year-old man was killed in a crash Wednesday afternoon after he drove in front of a freight train. The crash occurred at 1:20 p.m. near 14300 N. State Road-23 in Cornish.

Cache County Sheriff's Lt. Doyle Peck said the man was driving a white van along 14300 North, where the road crosses the railroad tracks.

“At this railroad crossing, he tried to cross westbound and was hit by the train,” Peck explained.

The train struck the driver's side of the van, crushing the cab and pushing it along the tracks until it came to a stop.

Officials report the man was the only occupant of the vehicle at the time of the accident. His identity is not being released pending notification of his family.

Paramedics and rescue workers were immediately dispatched to the scene of the accident. A rescue helicopter was also called, but the operation was later aborted after paramedics confirmed the man's death.

Peck said there were no warning lights or platforms at the crossing, and officials weren't sure if the man didn't see the train or didn't realize how close it was.

“Preliminary evidence shows that the conductor had sounded the train's horn. We believe that two vehicles were bridging the gap in front of him and so at this stage we do not know exactly why he crossed the tracks. Two vehicles were crossing the tracks when the train came and managed to get across, but he did not.”

The conductor was not injured, but the train was damaged in the accident.