Woman, 91, takes wrong turn onto track; train hits car

LANSING TWP. - An elderly woman escaped serious injury when a train struck her car early Sunday morning. She was outside the vehicle when it was hit.

The incident took place about 6:30 a.m. on the railroad tracks near Waverly and Lansing roads in Lansing Township. Both Lansing Township and Delta Township authorities responded.

According to Delta Township Fire Chief John Clark, a 91-year-old woman driving a Chevrolet HHR turned onto the tracks thinking it was a roadway. There was heavy fog at the time of the accident and the tracks are marked with a traffic light, which may have contributed to her confusion.

Her vehicle was northbound on Waverly Road when she made the turn onto the track and her vehicle became stuck.

"She knew she was stuck, got out of the car and walked around the scene for a while trying to find help," he said. She fell and remained in place where she had fallen.

After striking the vehicle, the train dragged it for about 600 yards, Clark said.

The woman was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries.

Contact Kathleen Lavey at (517) 377-1251 or klavey@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @kathleenlavey.