The California Highway Patrol reports that a 78-year-old Folsom man suffered moderate injuries Monday morning when the van he was driving collided with a freight train locomotive near Folsom Boulevard and Watt Avenue.
The silver Chrysler Town and Country van was westbound on Folsom Boulevard in the left-turn lane at the Watt Avenue intersection, and a Union Pacific Railroad locomotive was westbound on the Union Pacific tracks approaching Watt at 10 mph, according to a CHP news release.
Officials said the driver of the van failed to see the railroad crossing arms in the lowered position blocking traffic on northbound and southbound Watt Avenue.
The man drove through the crossing arm, striking it with the windshield portion of the vehicle, and traveled directly into the path of the oncoming train. The locomotive struck the left side of the van, and the van spun out of control away from the railroad tracks as the train came to a stop, authorities said.
The van driver was transported to UC Davis Medical Center. CHP officials said the collision is under investigation.
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