Car Rams Apartment Building.

Date: 07/28/2007
Time: Unknown
Location: Elyria, Ohio
Vehicle(s) Involved: Mazda 3

By TMC News

"One neighbor described the noise of the car hitting the building as a “bomb going off.” A man returning home to his apartment building on 6th Street believes he blacked out just before his car rammed the building.

Elyria Fire Department Captain Joe Pronesti said the car struck directly below an apartment window breaking through the façade and the interior masonry. “It’s not in any danger of collapsing, not totally, we just need to shore it up. Right now we’re waiting on the Building Department and the property manager to show up.”

Capt. Pronesti said that LifeCare Paramedics checked out the driver but the man signed off at the scene.

The driver, Theron Burnett, said that he was coming home and was parking his car when he all of a sudden blacked out. “It was my fault but I just blacked out. I don’t really remember it.”"

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Car-Train Crash Kills Teen.

Date: 07/14/2007
Time: Around 6:45 P.M.
Location: Huntington, Ohio
Vehicle(s) Involved: Ford Escort

By TMCNews

"A crash in Huntington Township between a car and train kills the teen driver and sends the passenger to the hospital.

Troopers at the scene say that a car driven by Amada White of New London was traveling south on Baker Road in Huntington Township when a westbound train at the Baker Road crossing struck it. Troopers say that White was killed on impact while her passenger 25-year-old Todd Dennis of Wellington was injured.

Wellington Fire District Chief Bob Walker said they were called to the scene around 6:45pm. Although extrication of the passenger only took about 15 minutes the location of the car made it difficult for Firefighters to get themselves and their equipment in there. From impact the car was pushed about 2,000 feet. “We were fortunate there was a corn field here with an access road where we were able to transport our extrication and EMS equipment back to the scene. The actual extrication time, once we got back there was only about 15 to 20 minutes but it was a lengthy process getting everything back there.”

Once Dennis was extricated from the vehicle he was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland with critical injuries.
Chief Walker said that although they are not yet sure what happened in this case he wants to take this opportunity to remind people about the dangers of railroad crossings. “We need to respect the railway crossings, the trains don’t have a quick opportunity to stop. This train that goes through here usually moves reasonably slow, but it still takes them a long time to get stopped. You just have to give trains a lot of room.” Chief Walker said that this particular crossing does not have flashing lights or gates; rather it is equipped with what is called “Ohio Cross Bucks”. Cross Bucks are reflective signs used at rail crossings in rural areas, the signs show up at night when headlights hit them.  "

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