DELMAR, DELAWARE (5/5/2018) A 22-year-old woman was killed Friday morning when her car was struck by a Delmarva Central Railroad locomotive north of Delmar, the Delaware State Police said this morning.
The collision was reported shortly before 9 a.m. on Bacons Road, between Powell Farm Lane and County Walk.
Sgt. Richard Bratz gave this account:
“A 2017 Ford Focus passenger vehicle was traveling eastbound on Bacons Road approaching a railroad crossing with the red railroad crossing signals flashing and the audible bell sounding. At that same time, a train was traveling southbound approaching Bacons Road. The engineer of the train was sounding the audible horn as the train approached the intersection.
“For unknown reasons, the driver failed to see and or hear the active railroad crossing warning safety devices. The passenger vehicle crossed the tracks in front of the train and as a result, the front of the train struck the left side of the vehicle. After impact, the vehicle was forced southbound as it rotated clockwise off the west side of the tracks.
“The vehicle came to rest in a private yard on the southwest corner of the intersection. The locomotive, which was pulling five empty grain cars and one additional locomotive, was stopped upright on the tracks south of the intersection.”
Bratz said the driver of the Ford Focus, Raelyn Huffman, of Delmar, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of injuries from the collision.
No other injuries were reported.
Bacons Road in the area of the crash was closed about four hours as police investigated and the wreckage was cleared.
Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact Master Cpl. K. Argo at 302-644-5020.
Tips also may be submitted anonymously through Delaware Crime Stoppers, which offers rewards, at 800-847-3333 or www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.