Two escape injury in train vs. car crash
by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
April 4, 2012
Two Libby area residents escaped injury when their vehicle was struck by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train. The crash occurred on Burlington Northern Railway private property near milepost #8 on the Jennings Haul Road.
At approximately 3:00 am, Wednesday , 4/4/12, the vehicle driven by Joshua Vanzile, 23-years old from Libby, became stuck in deep gravel within feet of the tracks after the driver attempted to drive the vehicle between a steep rock embankment and the rails. Shortly after Vanzile and his passenger, Georgia Sam, 25-years old from Libby got out of the vehicle to assess the situation, a northbound BNSF train came around the curve and struck the vehicle nearly head-on. The vehicle was pushed backwards into the rock embankment where it came to rest. Vanzile and Sam were clear of the vehicle at the time of collision and neither was injured.
The engineer stopped the train immediately and rail service was disrupted for several hours. Vanzile was arrested at the scene and transported to Lincoln County Jail for processing. The crash is being investigated by Montana Highway Patrol and the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, in addition to BNSF Investigators.
Alcohol and/or drug use is suspected and several charges against Vanzile are pending.
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By Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net.
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