FrontRunner train collides with abandoned car

A FrontRunner train smashed into a car abandoned on the railroad tracks in North Salt Lake on Wednesday morning. There were no injuries, but train service was delayed for about 90 minutes.

About 4:30 a.m., a driver was crossing Main Street in North Salt Lake on 900 South, when he tried to make a U-turn, said Utah Transit Authority spokesman Gerry Carpenter.

For an unknown reason, the driver ended up on the Union Pacific railroad tracks, which he drove on for 50 to 60 feet, Carpenter said. The driver tried to get off the tracks, but ended up getting stuck on the FrontRunner line, he said.

The man got out of his car and called police. Police arrived at the scene and called UTA to notify them of the abandoned car, but Carpenter said it was too late for a train that was already approaching at 77 mph.

"He was on top of it before he knew it was there," he said.

The train smashed into the vehicle. No one was injured, either on the ground or in the train. The train suffered minor damage, but the accident delayed FrontRunner service until it was investigated and cleared.

A bus bridge, transporting train riders around the accident into Salt Lake, was set up. The wrecked vehicle was cleared from the tracks about 6 a.m., and FrontRunner service was back on regular schedule by 7:30 a.m.

E-MAIL: preavy@desnews.com