A driver suffered multiple injuries after her car collided with a southbound five-car Louisville & Indiana train at 4:11 p.m. Friday at a crossing at County Line Road and Kyle Street in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh firefighters said the collision flipped the small sedan to the side of the tracks, trapping the woman inside the car hanging upside down but held within her safety belt inside the car.
Edinburgh Fire Chief Mike Herron said firefighters worked for about 20 minutes to extricate the woman from the vehicle, cutting away the front and back passenger side of the vehicle to get access to her. Firefighter Lt. Jacob Kelley was the first one to reach her in the vehicle. Firefighters are not identifying the victim until all family members are notified.
The driver was conscious and alert while the extrication was underway and was able to communicate with firefighters about her injuries, Herron said.
Firefighters called for Lifeline helicopter and the victim was first taken to a Seals ambulance before being transported by helicopter to Indianapolis.
The train crew was not injured in the incident, Herron said.
Edinburgh firefighters were assisted at the scene by German Township firefighters from Bartholomew County, Ninevah firefighters, Edinburgh police, the ambulance service and Lifeline.
First responders were at the scene until about 5:30 p.m., Herron said.
The car-train collision was the second in a week in the Edinburgh area, firefighters said. On Wednesday, a box truck collided with a train on the Louisville and Indiana train tracks at County Road 650S near Edinburgh and that driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
