Car slides onto railroad tracks, is struck by train
Photo by Tanna Yeoumans Due to the weather conditions, this car slid and became stuck on the railroad tracks near Ash and Plaza Street. It was eventually struck by a train.
BONNERS FERRY — On Nov. 3, Bonners Ferry Police Officer Raul Lopez responded to a report of a vehicle stuck on the railroad tracks at Ash and Plaza Street. Lopez immediately contacted dispatch to notify BNSF Railway Company about the incident.
According to the police report, it appeared the car had turned early and jumped the tracks 15-20 feet from the regular crossing due to the snowy weather conditions. Jason McNutt, who was assisting the county at the time, arrived at the scene and proceeded to try moving the car, which had been abandoned, off of the tracks.
The owner of the vehicle, Timmy Joe Wright, allegedly returned on foot and spoke with Lopez about the incident. Wright told Lopez that due to the weather conditions, his vision was obscured and he began to slide off path. According to the police report, during the conversation, a train began to approach. McNutt quickly disconnected his vehicle, and everyone moved away from the tracks and out of harm’s way.
“The impact was tremendous, and the vehicle was launched from the tracks,” Lopez wrote in the police report.
Boundary Ambulance was on scene, and took Wright inside to keep him warm and make sure he was all right, according to the police report. As Lopez waited for BNSF staff to arrive after speaking with dispatch about the incident, the conductor of the train approached the scene. Assuring the conductor that there was nobody harmed, the incident was then reported to the involved parties.