VENTURA, Calif. (AP) - A car-carrier loaded with vintage Porsches was struck by a freight train Sunday after becoming stranded on railroad tracks, officials said.
The accident occurred about 3:45 p.m. near the Ventura County Fairgrounds, said Lt. David Wilson of the Ventura Police Department, who was at the scene.
The car-carrier was ``high-centered'' on the railroad tracks and the driver was trying to maneuver it off the tracks when Wilson arrived.
Wilson said he called to have train traffic stopped, but a northbound freight train came barreling down the track only moments later.
``We were able to get the driver out of the cab, luckily,'' Wilson said.
The driver suffered minor injuries while fleeing from the impact, Wilson said.
The vintage Porsches ``are close to totaled, if not totaled,'' Wilson said.
``The train center-punched the trailer carrying the cars and split the trailer in half, and the cars went flying,'' he said.
The front engine of the freight train came off the tracks and Union Pacific crews were called to the scene to get it operating again, Wilson said.
Simviation Forums
Flight Simulator and other chat
