Engineer suffers minor injuries after car hits train

SEPTA resumed service on its L ans dale Doyle st own line shortly after 7:30 a.m. Friday after a train reportedly struck a car on the 1600 block of Walnut Street.

According to SEPTA and Hatfield police, the accident took place at about 6:15 a.m. Friday at the Walnut Street crossing between SEPTA’s Fortuna and Ninth Street stations, when a car heading westbound stopped between the gate and the tracks and was hit by a four-car train headed toward Center City.

The car had encroached into the train’s right-of-way, going un-

der the crossing gate, according to SEPTA spokeswoman Heather Redfern, who said the gates at the crossing were down and operating as intended when the incident happened.

“Had the car entered the track area, it could have been much worse,” she said.

Two people in the car and 15 on the trail were all unhurt, and the only reported injury was to the train engineer, who suffered a minor shoulder and arm injury, she said. The engineer was taken by ambulance to

Abington-Lansdale Hospital for treatment, according to police.

Rail service between Lansdale and Doylestown was suspended until roughly 7:30 a.m., and residual delays were cleared by 10 a.m. Friday. Hatfield police and SEPTA are continuing to investigate the incident, and anyone with

information is asked to contact the Hatfield Township Police Department at 215-855-0903 or email policetips@hatfield-township.org.

Police said drivers are strongly encouraged to always obey all grade crossing indicators including lights and arms signaling approaching trains.