QUOTE
2 women killed when train hits car
GARY, Ind. (AP) - A South Shore commuter train hit a car at a railroad crossing, killing two women, transit police said.
Witnesses said the driver was trying to beat the train across the tracks about 7 p.m. Sunday, said Robert Byrd, police chief for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which operates the railroad.
The women were pronounced dead at the scene, a crossing near County Line Road and U.S. 12 on Gary's east side.
The victims were identified as Jill Tutlewski, 26, of Portage, the driver, and her passenger, Julie Malkowski, 26, of Valparaiso, a spokesman for the Lake County Coroner's office said Monday.
Witnesses told transit police that the car drove around a lowered crossing arm in front of an oncoming freight train on a track that runs parallel to the South Shore, then tried the same thing in front of the commuter train.
The collision sent the car into a utility pole and scattered debris along a 100-yard stretch of track. There was only minor damage to the train.
The train, which had just left the South Shore station in Ogden Dunes, generally travels about 79 mph at that point, Byrd said.
“I just felt a 'thud,' then this grinding sound, then I saw one of the axles (from the car) come flying past my window,” said 19-year-old Jessica Stanley of Middlebury, who was sitting in a car waiting for the train to pass.
GARY, Ind. (AP) - A South Shore commuter train hit a car at a railroad crossing, killing two women, transit police said.
Witnesses said the driver was trying to beat the train across the tracks about 7 p.m. Sunday, said Robert Byrd, police chief for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which operates the railroad.
The women were pronounced dead at the scene, a crossing near County Line Road and U.S. 12 on Gary's east side.
The victims were identified as Jill Tutlewski, 26, of Portage, the driver, and her passenger, Julie Malkowski, 26, of Valparaiso, a spokesman for the Lake County Coroner's office said Monday.
Witnesses told transit police that the car drove around a lowered crossing arm in front of an oncoming freight train on a track that runs parallel to the South Shore, then tried the same thing in front of the commuter train.
The collision sent the car into a utility pole and scattered debris along a 100-yard stretch of track. There was only minor damage to the train.
The train, which had just left the South Shore station in Ogden Dunes, generally travels about 79 mph at that point, Byrd said.
“I just felt a 'thud,' then this grinding sound, then I saw one of the axles (from the car) come flying past my window,” said 19-year-old Jessica Stanley of Middlebury, who was sitting in a car waiting for the train to pass.