Login

Gallup Sun

Friday, Mar 29th

Last update02:11:40 PM GMT

You are here: News Sun News A death results from collision between car and train

A death results from collision between car and train

E-mail Print PDF

MENTMORE — In the early morning of June 26, one man died in a head-on collision with a BNSF train.

At 4:40 am, McKinley County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Roxanne King was dispatched to Defiance Draw Road in reference to an accident involving a train and a vehicle. At the scene, the train was at a standstill and a black Jeep Patriot with Arizona plates was facing east on the tracks, .7 miles west of Tseyatoh crossing, according to King’s report.

“Due to the direction of both vehicles, it appeared to be a head on collision,” King wrote.

The vehicle sustained heavy damage, and the driver, 45-year-old Arvin Bain of Ft. Defiance died at the scene. However, engineers said a passenger may have exited the vehicle.

According to the report, at about 4:20 am, the train conductor noticed headlights on the tracks that appeared to be heading in the direction of the train. The train’s horn was blown several times, and the conductor thought he saw two people in the car. He put the train in an emergency stop, but collided with the car at about 46- to 55-miles-per-hour.

The train, which was hauling 84 cars, weighed 7,149 tons, and was about 8,084-feet-long.

The time of death was pronounced to be 6:05 am, according to Office of the Medical Investigator Corilynn Calvin. It is yet to be determined whether the driver was intoxicated.

By Mia Rose Poris

Sun Editor

Share/Save/Bookmark