Police Charge SUV Driver in Collision at Railroad Crossing

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For the third time in just over a year, police responded to the railroad crossing at Lee Highway in Gainesville for a collision between a car and a Norfolk Southern train.

According to Prince William County Police, at 6:47 p.m. Wednesday evening, the female driver of an SUV stopped her vehicle on the tracks.

“The accused disregarded the signs and roadway markings and stopped on the tracks. Police spokesman Officer Dennis J. Jensen said. “The train was unable to stop and struck the rear of the car.”

Police report no injuries to the driver of the car or the train’s conductor, who was the only individual on the train.

As a result of the accident, traffic was shut down in both directions for approximately 2.5 hours before the train could be moved.

Police charged the driver of the SUV with the accident and released her on a summons.

“There were two other vehicles that were also stopped in the no stopping zone who were not involved in the accident but were issued tickets,” Jensen said.

Furthermore, police report another accident occurred at University Boulevard and Rail Line Court between an SUV and a car at about the same time as the train collision.

The two accidents, however, were not connected.

“There were no injuries reported,” he said. “This appears to be a regular accident.”

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