A car was hit by a train Monday in Durham, and the driver survived. It's one of several train-related crashes reported in the city in recent months.
Before 7 a.m., Durham officers responded to the railroad tracks at Grant Street and Pettigrew Street, where a white sedan parked in front of the train tracks had significant damage to its rear end, and the rear bumper was torn off.
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Sky 5 flew overhead at 7:30 a.m., showing the railway crossing stop arm on top of the car and a passenger train stalled further down the tracks.
The car's driver went around the stop arms and was struck by a train, according to Durham police. The driver was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, and no one on the train was injured.
Crash debris and personal items spilled from the car due to the impact.
Multiple Durham Police Department vehicles were at the scene, and the tracks were blocked off for several hours.
Train crashes are not infrequent in Durham, with WRAL News reporting at least six crashes in the last 18 months, three of which were deadly.
On March 21, a freight train and car collided near downtown Durham, resulting in non-life-threatening injuries. In January, a pedestrian was hit by a train and hospitalized on Main Street near Hillandale Road.
In 2024, train crashes were reported on South Alston Avenue, Hillsborough Road and Peabody Street. All three crashes resulted in deaths.
In 25 years, 19 train-related crashes occurred at just three intersections in east Durham.
WRAL News reports Durham County has received about $1.2 million from the federal government to study solutions, as well as additional funding administered by GoTriangle.