LAURINBURG — A local man was cited for failure to stop at a railroad crossing after his vehicle collided with a CSX train on Friday morning, according to police.
Around 9 a.m. on Friday, Cedrick Elmer Bennett, 27, of 205 Phritz St. was driving southbound on Main Street, approaching the Railroad Street intersection, when he heard a train approaching.
According to Captain Terry Chavis of the Laurinburg Police Department, Bennett then took a detour onto Bizzell Street, then turned right on Biggs Street in an attempt to cross the railroad tracks ahead of the approaching locomotive.
“When he got there he heard the train’s horn but could not see it,” Chavis said. “The front of his car made it up onto the railroad tracks where he got hit.”
The collision propelled Bennett’s 2009 Hyundai Sonata onto an empty lot. Damages to the vehicle were estimated at $4,000, but Bennett left the scene under his own steam.
“He complained of some pain in his back area, he refused EMS treatment and transport but we were told he went to the hospital to be seen on his own with family,” said Chavis.
The train did not resume its course for about 75 minutes, during which time the Main, Biggs, Gill and King streets routes into Laurinburg were blocked.
“After the train comes to a complete stop, before they can take off again they have to walk the actual length of the train to make sure there are no other obstructions or anything before they can move,” Chavis said.
Bennett was cited on the scene for failure to stop and a railroad crossing and failure to reduce speed.
Mary Katherine Murphy can be reached at 910-506-3169.