Man walks away after train drags car 200 feet
Published: August 28, 2005
Kenneth Liptak Jr.’s car didn’t look like a car after being crushed, twisted and dragged by a train Saturday morning north of Valparaiso.
Porter County Sheriff’s Department officers who responded were shocked to see that Liptak not only survived the crash, but also managed to crawl out of the mangled metal and walk around.
“It was a miracle. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Sgt. Charles Douthett said in a news release.
Liptak’s mother, Helen, said she was still in shock hours after hearing about the crash. She said “somebody up there” was looking out for her son.
The crash occurred at 7:50 a.m. Saturday at County Road 200 West and the CSX tracks, about two miles north of U.S. 6.
Liptak, 30, who lives just north of the crossing, was heading south to work at Four Seasons Nursery on U.S. 6.
He told police he pulled out of his driveway and immediately saw the lights and gates activated. He told police he saw a northbound car drive around the gates and then he looked for westbound trains, telling police the morning trains usually come from that direction. Liptak admitted he didn’t look in the other direction.
An eastbound train, which was traveling 55 mph, struck the passenger side of his 1990 Subaru Legacy station wagon, pushing the car 200 feet east of the crossing. The mangled wreckage landed upside down. Liptak, who police said had only minor bruises and declined medical treatment, was walking around the scene when police arrived. Police said the 6-foot-4 Liptak wiggled himself free from the wreckage.
Police, who ticketed Liptak for disregarding a railroad signal, said the crash shows the importance of obeying safety devices at railroad crossings.
The crossing was closed for three hours because of the investigation and cleanup.
Liberty Township firefighters and Porter hospital EMS joined Porter County police at the scene.
If you enjoyed this good news Subscribe to Good News Blog
Share this
To share this simply copy and paste one of the below URL's: