Amtrak severs pickup truck, occupants survive

5/10/2008

CLAY CENTER, Ohio Two men were injured early Saturday morning when the pickup truck they were in was struck by an Amtrak passenger train in Ottawa County s Allen Township, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

Brent Weyandt, 23, of Williston, Ohio, and Andrew Bowland, 26, of Genoa, were both treated for minor injuries after the 12:53 a.m. crash.

Mr. Weyandt was southbound on Martin-Williston Road and failed to stop at the grade crossing, which was activated because of an oncoming train, troopers with the patrol s Sandusky post said.

He drove the pickup around the crossing arms and was struck by the train. The vehicle was cut in two and the passenger compartment came to rest on its side, troopers said.

The Pittsburgh-bound train, which was carrying 227 people in eight passenger cars, and had one luggage car, sustained minor damage to the front of the locomotive. None of the train s passengers was injured and the train was able to proceed, troopers said.