First Coast NBC / ABC On Your Side News reported recently that a Hilliard woman was killed in a motor vehicle accident that occurred when she tried to beat a train through a road / railroad junction only to be struck by the oncoming train.
According to officials from the Florida Highway Patrol, the incident occurred on Friday, January 22, 2021, between 4:40 p.m. and 4:45 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) along Andrews Road near the intersection of U.S. Highway 1 and Andrews Road in Hilliard. The victim, a Hilliard woman 38 years of age, was driving a sedan westbound on Andrews Road approaching a railroad crossing at which the safety arms had already moved to the down position as a southbound CSX train was approaching.
The train hit the sedan, forcing it off the tracks into a freestanding electrical box nearby. The woman was killed by the injuries she sustained in the accident. Andrews Road was closed for several hours to investigate the accident and clean up wreckage.
The accident is still currently under an active investigation. Local authorities reminded the public to exercise caution when traversing railroad crossings and not attempt to circumvent safety barriers.
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