Typically, when you hear about a vehicle getting hit by a train, it’s the result of an impatient driver trying to beat the train through a crossing, or getting stuck on the tracks due to traffic or a mechanical breakdown. This incident, brought to us by the Montgomery County Police Reporter, is more of a “Man bites dog” story, though. In this late-night crash last Wednesday, a new 5th Gen Camaro left the road at a high rate of speed on a curve near a gated crossing and ended up hitting the side of a freight train at a 45 degree angle.
According to the news report, Darrell McCown of Conroe, Texas (the seat of Montgomery County, about 40 miles north of Houston) was southbound on FM 1485 when he lost control on a curve near the tracks and managed to cover almost 100 feet before striking the eastbound train. OnStar called 911 after receiving an “airbags deployed” signal, and when first responders arrived, they knocked out the front windshield of the Camaro, allowing McCown to exit the car under his own power.
He was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated for nothing more than a cut on the hand, then taken into custody on (no surprise here) DWI charges. Meanwhile, the train kept a ‘rollin, with the crew not realizing there had been a crash until subsequently informed of the incident.
Raw video from the scene: