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State of Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Division of State Police
Superintendent Robert M. Coupe |
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DSP News Release: Tuesday, October 13, 2009- Car vs. Train Crash Investigated in Bear
Location: Route 71, south of Kirkwood St. Georges Road, at the rail road crossing in Bear, Delaware, New Castle County
Date of Occurrence: Tuesday, October 13, 2009, at 6:41 a.m.
Resume: Earlier this morning, Troopers cited a Bear woman for disregarding a rail road crossing.
This investigation revealed a Norfolk Southern train (operated by Andrew Kazakavage, unknown age, of Sunbury, Pennsylvania), hauling 12,000 tons of cargo, was traveling in an easterly direction on the rail road tracks in Bear, Delaware. As the train approached its crossing at Route 71, the rail road crossing signals activated ahead.
A 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe (operated by Carolyn Hunte, 48, of Bear, Delaware) was traveling northbound on Route 71 approaching the rail road crossing. A 2005 Subaru Impreza (operated by Ms. Zihreta Blagovcanin, 61, of Bear, Delaware) was directly behind the Hyundai.
The Hyundai began to cross the train tracks, even though the crossing signals were activated, when the operator saw the train coming. Thinking that she was not going to make it across the tracks, the operator of the Hyundai came to a stop. She was going to back up; however, the Subaru was stopped too close behind her.
The train continued eastbound and struck the Hyundai, sending it backwards and into a spin. The Hyundai then collided with the Subaru.
No one was injured in this crash; however, Ms. Hunte was transported from the scene to Christiana Hospital for observation. She was cited for Failure to Stop at a Rail Road Crossing.
The train remained across the tracks for approximately two hours blocking the roadway.
An arial view of this location can be viewed via the following Google Maps link.
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