Cantwell man injured when car hits train

FAIRBANKS (AP) -- A Cantwell man suffered broken ribs and a gash to his forehead after he drove into a moving train near Hurricane on the Parks Highway Wednesday evening, according to Alaska State Troopers. A dog in the back of his station wagon died.

James L. Miller, 60, was driving south toward Anchorage when he hit the 54th car of a 64-car train crossing the Parks Highway at Mile 169, Trooper Sgt. Sonny Sabala said. The crash occurred about 11:30 p.m.

Miller was taken by ambulance to Talkeetna and then flown to Providence Medical Center in Anchorage for treatment. He was hospitalized in stable condition Friday.

Miller claims he didn't see the crossing's warning lights and hit the train going about 55 mph, Sabala said. The impact totaled his 1992 Ford Taurus station wagon and killed his dog.

Ernie Piper, the Alaska Railroad's vice president of safety, said signal workers checked the crossing and determined the warning lights were in working order.

Piper said the lights at that particular crossing are visible from a long distance on a level, straight section of the highway.

The train's crew didn't know that the train had been hit and continued traveling north. Piper said the empty 30-ton tank car had bent railings and was missing a ladder, but otherwise was intact.

Another motorist discovered the crumpled car and called 911, the trooper said. The accident closed the southbound lane for about three hours.