
An 84-year-old woman was taken to the hospital after the car she was driving was struck by a freight train at a crossing in Andover, Massachusetts on Thursday morning. The victim’s car was totaled, but MBTA Transit Police said she “came out unscathed.”
People who were near the Essex Street railroad crossing at the time described what they heard.
“I live literally like one street away, so I heard the train whistle, and it was like extra loud, and it’s not always like that,” said Anna Barron.
“We heard a long, long, long blast of the train and then we heard what we thought was a door slamming, but it was obviously the car,” said business owner Mark Spencer.
Woman trapped inside crumpled car
When they came outside, they saw the victim’s mangled car, surrounded by first responders. Andover firefighters removed the woman who was trapped inside the car. She was flown to a Boston hospital for treatment.
CBS Boston
Spencer said his security cameras captured the crash. “She tried to drive underneath the gate as the gate was closing,” he said. “It is unbelievable. The car caught her on the front end and spun the car around.”
Transit Police said the driver, “proceeded through the warning system, bells, lights and once beyond the threshold, the gates came down.”
Those familiar with the intersection say it’s long been a troubled spot for crashes.
“One person got stuck but they got out one time, I think their car got banger but not them,” said Barron. “I am like very aware of this area, so I pay special attention like I’m very cognizant when I come down this way because it is just a weird area.”
Transit Police detectives are investigating the crash.