Belleville, IL : 24-year-old Beckemeyer man killed in car-train crash in Clinton County on Thursday, March 16, 2017

A 24-year-old Beckemeyer man was killed Thursday when his car collided with a train in Clinton County.

Spencer Crafton was driving to a friend’s house when a Norfolk Southern train traveling west hit the passenger side of his vehicle, Sgt. Dan Travous of the sheriff’s department said.

Crafton was flown to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis where he was later pronounced dead.

The rural train crossing did not have crossing lights, Travous said.

Officials do not suspect that drugs or alcohol played a role, Travous said. The conductor of the two-person cargo train was shaken up but otherwise seemed OK, he added.

The department was called around 9:45 a.m. to a private lane at 24505 Illinois 161. The area is east of Hoffman.

The Hoffman and Huey-Ferrin-Boulder fire departments, LifeStar Ambulance and an evacuation helicopter responded, according to a news release.

The crash was still being investigated as of Friday morning, according to the sheriff’s department.

Source :
24-year-old Beckemeyer man killed in car-train crash in Clinton County