ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 9, 1997 TAG: 9703100070
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JON CAWLEY
Three people escaped serious injury early Saturday when the car in which they were riding became stuck at a Salem railroad crossing. A train destroyed the car minutes after it was abandoned.
The car, driven by Melissa Mundy, 27, of Roanoke, approached the tracks on Union Street about 1 a.m. It went off the road and became stuck as it crossed the tracks at Broom Street. Everyone got out; six minutes later, a train powered by two locomotives and pulling about 160 empty coal cars slammed into the car at approximately 25 mph, Salem Lt. D.F. Murphy said.
Salem police received a call that the car was stuck about 1:05 a.m. An officer arrived just as the train did, Murphy said.
Despite the "excellent job" the conductor did trying to stop the train, the car ended up beside the second engine, Murphy said.
Mundy was treated at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for minor injuries and released, Murphy said. He did not know how she had been injured. No one else was hurt.
The accident, still under investigation, was alcohol-related, Murphy said. Charges are pending.
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