A view of the railroad crossing from eastbound Van Horn approaching Jefferson, where at 2:15 a.m. Jan. 19 a driver crashed into a southbound train, killing himself and his female passenger.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON – A crash at 2:15 a.m. Jan. 19 killed a man and woman when the driver, who may have disregarded the gates, struck a southbound train while eastbound on Van Horn.
The Wayne Medical Examiner’s office has not yet released the names of the victims, but social media posting have identified the two, who recently began dating, as Amanda Ellis, 26, of Trenton and Sean Umlor, 27, of Taylor.
Trenton Public Safety Director Steven Voss said the crossing gates were activated and the train had been traveling south through the intersection with Van Horn for about three minutes when the car slammed into the side of the train. There were reportedly several eyewitnesses to the crash.
The police report indicates that the investigation has been complicated by the train operator not being immediately aware of the vehicle crashing into the train and the nature of the crash itself.
The train operator activated the emergency brakes near South Huron River Drive in Rockwood, about six miles away.
Voss said first responders from the communities for six miles south of the Van Horn intersection helped with the investigation. He said the nature of the crash was disturbing even to seasoned personnel.
(Sue Suchyta can be reached at [email protected].)