Published: October 28, 2008 11:15 pm      

Passenger train, pickup truck collide

blivingston@themeridianstar.com



An east bound AmTrak passenger train and a full-sized pickup collided at Hawkins Crossing at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The driver of the truck was transported to a local Meridian hospital with minor injuries, officials said. No one on the train was reported injured.

The crossing, located just inside the Meridian city limits on Hwy. 11/80, has automated crossing guard arms one of which was heavily damaged in the incident. An investigation into the cause of the collision is under way.

The passenger train was leaving Meridian headed for Atlanta, Ga., according to Mark Magliari, spokesman for AmTrak, and was not traveling very fast at the time of the accident. However, the truck was severely damaged from the impact and had to be towed from the scene.

Norfolk Southern Railroad crews were to begin work on repairing the crossing guard immediately. It was unclear whether the crossing would be closed during the time crews conducted the repairs.