Train strikes pickup stuck on railroad tracks in New Kent; pickup driver charged

The pickup truck shown was struck by a CSX train Thursday night as it sat abandoned on railroad tracks in eastern New Kent County .

State Police photo

The 20 year-old driver of a pickup truck has been charged after the vehicle he was driving became stuck on railroad tracks in New Kent County and was struck by a freight train.

The mishap occurred Thursday night (March 24) around 9 p.m. State police say a 1988 Chevrolet pickup attempted to cross the CSX Railroad tracks near South Waterside Drive/Wingapo in Lanexa when the vehicle became stuck. The location is not a designated public or private crossing. The driver and a 26-year-old passenger abandoned the vehicle before the train arrived.

The train was unable to stop as it approached the vehicle and continued on for more than a mile beyond where it struck the vehicle before coming to a complete stop. No injuries were reported. The pickup driver, who has not been identified, has been charged with trespassing on a railroad track, according to state police.