One man is dead following a crash Monday night between a CSX train and a pick-up truck near the General Shale brickyard in Woodbine, and authorities believe alcohol may have played a role in the accident.
The passenger, who authorities believe was Steven R. Simpson Jr., of Corbin, died shortly after impact. He was riding in a 1999 Chevrolet pick-up truck driven by Terry Elliotte, 26, of Corbin. The accident happened at the railroad crossing at KY 26 and Perkins Street around 7:45 p.m.
According to Kentucky State Police, Elliotte made a right turn onto the crossing from KY 26 and tried to drive around the railroad crossing arms that were down, signaling a train was near. The train struck the truck and Elliotte was thrown from the vehicle. Simpson died from the impact that occurred on the passenger side of the vehicle.
Woodbine residents Josh Caldwell and his girlfriend Karlie Farmer said they heard the crash as they were walking back from Benge’s market to buy some soda. The two live in a home right across from the tracks where the accident happened.
"It just made a weird sound … there was just this funny smell. I guess it was the brakes or something on the train. I never seen a train stop that fast before," Caldwell said. "They go by here all the time and you hear the horn. We never heard the horn once this time. I just think he didn’t hear it coming."
Though the crossing signal and arms appeared to be working after the crash, Caldwell said it is not unusual for them to malfunction.
"They are all the time messed up," he said. "A lot of times the crossings, they never go down. Sometimes they go down when no train is coming."
He said it was the second such accident in the last several years at the intersection.
CSX officials at the scene say the crossing signal was operating appropriately at the time of the crash.
Elliotte was taken to Baptist Regional Medical Center by ambulance with serious injuries, and later transferred to the University of Kentucky Medical Center for treatment. He remained there as of press time Tuesday and was listed in fair condition.
Police say it appeared Elliotte might have been under the influence of alcohol when the accident happened.
Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley said it appeared the two men had been hunting prior to the accident.
The train was operated by Darrell Faulkner, 60, of Knoxville, TN. He stopped the train a short time after impact. Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley said most CSX trains are equipped with on-board cameras and that railroad investigators and police would be reviewing footage of the accident to determine the circumstances surrounding it.
KSP Traffic Crash Reconstructionist Trooper Greg Hill, from KSP Post 11 in London, is conducting the investigation and was assisted by KSP Trooper Scott Bunch, the Whitley County EMS and the Woodbine Fire and Rescue.
