Nobody hurt when train hits SUV in South Anchorage

No one was injured when a freight train crashed into an SUV in South Anchorage early Thursday, according to the Anchorage Police Department and the Alaska Railroad.

A 911 caller reported the crash at 1:53 a.m., said police spokesman MJ Thim.

The driver of the 1997 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer told police officers that she "mistakenly drove onto the railroad tracks," the statement said. "She told officers that weather conditions and a lack of daylight impaired her vision."

The crash happened on the tracks that cross over Arctic Boulevard, just north of where the road intersects with Arctic Spur Road, according to police.

There are gates at the intersection that block traffic when a train passes by.

Sullivan said the gates were up when the SUV entered the railroad crossing, and then the driver "pulled over and got stuck." Sullivan said he did not know how the car got stuck. He said he believed someone was trying to help the driver free the car when the train approached.

"There was somebody there, as I understand it, that was trying to tow her out," he said. "Then the train came in."

The driver got out of the car before the crash, said the statement from police.

The train was traveling northbound and hauling freight. There were two workers aboard, the statement said.

Sullivan said the train was traveling at 37 mph and slowed down as it approached the crossing because of the car. He didn't know the exact speed at the time of the collision, but photographs of the scene showed a crumpled SUV in the middle of the train tracks.

"There ain't much left," Sullivan said of the car.

No one was injured in the crash, including the driver and the Alaska Railroad employees, said Sullivan and police. Sullivan said the train had minor damage.

He said crews were working Thursday morning "on the signal at the crossing to make sure everything is working well there."

He said he didn't expect the crash to delay any trains Thursday.

The crash briefly closed stretches of Arctic Boulevard and C Street early Thursday. The roads were reopened around 3:30 a.m., police reported.

Sullivan said police and the railroad continued to investigate the crash Thursday afternoon.