Train slams into truck at Central Point crossing - Gate House

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2015-01-03

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> By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune December 23. 2014 10:52AM Train slams into truck at Central Point crossing A Central Oregon Pacific train hit a truck in the Pine Street crossing in Central Point Tuesday morning. Mail Tribune / Jamie Lusch CENTRAL POINT — A slow-moving Central Oregon Pacific train struck a Chevy pickup truck Tuesday morning in a crossing at Pine and Front streets before the allegedly intoxicated driver fled into a nearby neighborhood. The driver, identified as Gary Lee Wilsie, 47, of the 2600 block of Hanley Road in Central Point, was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of an intoxicant, failure to perform the duties of a driver, second-degree criminal mischief, possession of a controlled substance, driving while suspended and obstruction of a rail crossing, according to a Central Point police release.  Central Point police Chief Kris Allison said the pickup, a 1992 Chevy 1500, was traveling eastbound when it passed through the crossing guards and onto the tracks at about 10:20 a.m. "What it looks like is he was traveling and then went into the crossing guards when the train was coming through," Allison said. The train, which was going about 10 mph, shoved the truck off the tracks until it came to rest parallel to the train's lead engine. Rob Mayhall, who lives near the train tracks, said he didn't see the crash or hear squealing brakes, but said the train's usual passing sounds were off. "It was doing its usual thing, but then something didn't sound right," Mayhall said. "It sounded different." Investigators say the male driver leaped from the vehicle and ran into a nearby neighborhood after the crash. The crash caused heavy front-end damage to the truck and gouged meters-long scratches into the side of the train. Three engines were pulling about a dozen cars at the time of the crash. The driver was apprehended a short time later by police while he was walking near the intersection of Timothy Street and Snowy Butte Road. He did not appear to be injured. The truck's owner is listed as Terry Lee Wilsie, 51, according to Driver and Motor Vehicle Services records. He and Gary Lee Wilsie were identified as brothers in a 2011 online obituary for a family member who died in Oklahoma. The stopped train prompted fire and police responders to detour westbound traffic on Pine Street onto Highway 99 until just after 11:30 a.m., when the truck was towed away and the train started rolling again. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or  [email protected] . Follow him at  www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141223/NEWS/141229855 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->