One person was injured when a train struck a pickup Monday afternoon near Rachel Carson Park in Cheswick, then pushed the vehicle for nearly a mile before coming to rest, police said.
The male driver of the lime-green truck was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital.
The man was able to pull himself out of his truck, which was hit on its passenger side, Allegheny Valley Regional police Officer Chris Fabec said.
NOW — Allegheny Valley police investigate aftermath of a train vs. pickup truck crash that ended near Colfax Street in Cheswick.
— Natasha Lindstrom (@NewsNatasha) November 4, 2019
Officials tell me the man driving the lime-green truck was able to pull himself out & alert when taken to a nearby hospital.@TribLIVE @VNDNews pic.twitter.com/a2plHo6CEq
He was alert when medics took him by ambulance to a nearby hospital. He did not appear to have life-threatening injuries, police said. An update on his condition was not available. Officials did not release his name.
Shortly before 5 p.m., police and Norfolk Southern officials took notes as they inspected where the train ended up — on a stretch of the tracks south of Pittsburgh Street near Colfax Street outside a PPG Paints coating and resins plant.
The smashed truck rested against the front of the train, with the truck’s bed partially severed from the cab and rear tires and axles missing.
A tow truck removed the damaged vehicle shortly after 5:30 p.m., and the train that had been stopped on the tracks took off with its horns blaring several minutes later.
A Norfolk Southern official could not immediately be reached for comment.
Allegheny County 911 dispatchers received a report of the crash about 3:40 p.m. Police are investigating the cause.
