Driver, 16, Ticketed in Train-Car Collision; Trenton Neighbors Vent About Crossing

A 16-year-old Trenton boy driver was ticketed in ; meanwhile, nearby residents have been venting about the railroad crossing at Fort Street and Van Horn Road.

The driver said he accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake, causing his car to surge forward and strike an oncoming train Tuesday morning, according to Trenton police.

The boy was not injured in the accident, but the rear passenger door of his 1992 Toyota was heavily damaged from where the car hit the train. Police said the car was totaled.

The boy had almost made it across the tracks when his car hit the train. The car then began to spin and was found about 25 feet from the road, according to police.

Sgt. Brad Petraska of the Trenton Police Department said the seat belt saved the boy’s life.

“He was very shaken up,” Petraska said. “Very shaken up. ... (The) kid is very lucky and having his seat belt on made a difference. His seat belt saved his life.”

Police said the train had minimal damage and would about $500 to fix.

The boy was issued a ticket for disobeying a railroad signal, which carries with it a fine of $130 and three points against his diver’s license.

The crossing

Petraska said the boy's accident was the first car-train crash in more than 20 years at the Fort Street and Van Horn Road crossing, and he does not consider the crossing to be more dangerous than others like it.

He added that a representative of the railroad told him the width of the road and high winds would make it unsafe for a gate to be placed at the crossing.

Nevertheless, residents said the number of passing trains coupled with their extreme length of the trains often cause frustratingly long wait times.

Several residents expressed their frustrations with area trains in comments on the Trenton Patch Facebook page this week:

Heather Grisham Westphal I know it would be way costly, but it always seemed to me there should be bridges on both Fort and Allen since they are such major roads...there's a bridge on West...

Mandy Roberts Trombly He probably got ticked that he got stopped by it three times in one day for 20 minutes at a time and rammed it! It's crossed MY mind...

Ed Castor I was born in Trenton (the area) and lived there for 28 years. I've often thought of ramming a train at that crossing, along with the one on Allen near Van Horn. Many of my family, friends, colleagues and enemies feel/felt the same way as I. Someone better setup a rubber room the size of Kennedy and Yack combined, STAT!

Lisa Oaks Salcedo Same here Ed...I hate having to go either way. Always wonder how long I'll be stuck there!

Trenton Mayor Kyle Stack said she empathizes with people who get stuck at the trains at Fort Street and Van Horn and has been looking into a possible underpass or overpass to help clear up some of the traffic and provide a faster route for emergency vehicles.

Stack said funding for the bridge is a major obstacle and she is currently looking into different ways of attaining the money.

She added she would prefer funding the overpass or underpass through a federal grant to avoid residents from having to pay more in taxes.

"This has been in the talking stages before, but the funding is the problem," Stack said. "I'm not saying raising taxes is the solution."