Train claims another vehicle at Cardinal
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 8, 2000
DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / November 8, 2000
LAPLACE – Another car has been claimed by the Cardinal Street railroad crossing.
At roughly 20 minutes after 9 a.m. Monday a 1996 Dodge Strata was strucksquarely between the front and back passenger doors by a passing train. Thecar, driven by Eric Florian, 23, of Reserve, was headed north toward Airline Highway when the Kansas City Southern engine hit him.
The impact of the collision threw the silver Dodge 46 feet from the crossing.
The passenger was conscious after the impact and was trying to exit the vehicle prior to Acadian Ambulance’s arrival. Authorities at the scenepersuaded Florian to remain in the vehicle until the ambulance arrived.
Acadian Ambulance units 76 and 77 removed Florian from the scene and transported him to River Parishes Hospital.
Witnesses at the scene reported to the sheriff’s deputies that Florian was playing “his very loud music” while approaching the crossing. The Kansas CitySouthern engine, to which no cars were attached, was sounding it’s horn and bell to warn the approaching car.
The impact was at only 14 miles per hour. The speed limit for trains alongthat area is 20 miles per hour.
River Parishes Hospital officials said Florian was in stable condition as of Monday afternoon and was expected to be released later that evening.
The vehicle’s passenger doors were crushed inward, with the glove compartment wedged shut. Deputies had to use a pry-bar to access theglove compartment and Florian’s vehicle information.
Florian was cited with failure to yield at a railroad crossing.
The railroad crossing on Cardinal Street has had numerous accidents before, ranging from impacts with trains and vehicles getting high-centered on the tracks.
The crossing has been closed before to study the effects of traffic patterns to determine what should be done with it, said Bertram Madere, St. Johndirector of Civil Defense. The neighborhood requested that the crossing bereopened, and the crossing has been in operation ever since.
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