ELTON — Three people, including a child, were injured Tuesday after their vehicle was hit by a freight train just west of Elton.

The driver, Pamela Thomas Thompson, 32, of Elton, and a passenger, Jennifer Gentry, 26, of Elton, suffered moderate injuries, state police Sgt. James Anderson said. A 3-year-old child in the vehicle suffered minor injuries.

All three were taken to area hospitals, Anderson said. No one in the vehicle was restrained, he said.

Thompson was traveling north on Liberty Cemetery Road just north of U.S. 190 shortly after 7:30 p.m. when she drove into the path of a westbound Union Pacific train, state police said.

Thompson placed the vehicle in reverse and tried to back out of the path of the train. The vehicle was struck by the train near the passenger side front tire and was pushed off the track.

Thompson was charged with failure to yield to a train, failure to wear a seatbeat and no child restraint.

The vehicle traveled 104 feet on a grassy area south of the railroad track before stopping, police said. The train traveled about four-tenths of a mile after impact.

The railroad crossing was marked with crossing and yield signs, but did not have flashing lights, gates or bells, authorities said.

A toxicology sample was obtained from Thompson for analysis.

Three people were hospitalized after this mishap in Elton. The driver reportedly drove into the path of a westbound Union Pacific Freight train. The driver of the SUV placed the vehicle in reverse in an attempt to avoid collision

(MGNonline)