Two transported via helicopter after ‘mile-long’ freight train smashes into Ford Explorer

MCCAMMON — A “mile-long” Union Pacific freight train barreled into nan driver’s broadside of a metallic 2008 Ford Explorer astatine nan 12th Street intersection successful McCammon connected Friday evening, according to nan Bannock County Sheriff’s Office.

“The conveyance was pushed from nan tracks — astir apt astir 50 feet, a 100 feet possibly from nan tracks,” Corporal Ellett of nan Bannock County Sheriff’s Office reported.

The 2 occupants of nan vehicle, a man and female from McCammon, were transported via aerial ambulance to Portneuf Medical Center.

The driver was extracted from nan Explorer pinch nan Jaws of Life, a group of devices utilized to trim unfastened nan vehicle. The rider did not require nan further assistance to exit nan vehicle.

Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police, Bannock County Search and Rescue, Portneuf Air Med, Pocatello Ambulance and Lava Ambulance responded to nan incident.

It is unclear astatine this clip whether nan driver of nan Ford SUV did not spot nan train coming aliases attempted to hit it crossed nan intersection erstwhile he drove onto nan tracks.

“There’s nary arms. There’s nary lights there. It conscionable has a output sign,” Ellett said.

Most trains recreation successful nan area astatine 30 to 40 miles per hour.

He warned drivers to salary attraction astatine immoderate railroad crossing.

“Watch those tracks. Look some ways. Be cognizant. I deliberation group go complacent, particularly connected that type of crossing. …You know, ‘Oh, I don’t hear. I don’t spot it. I’m conscionable gonna go,'” Ellett said.

The 12th Street intersection was closed for 2 hours until astir 7 p.m.

“Just cheque successful some ways. It’s still a yield, and we person to output to nan trains,” Ellett said.