Photo from Lansing State Journal - Delta Twp.
UPDATE - LANSING STATE JOURNAL: - The fatal Amtrak crash victim drove around lowered gates at the train crossing on Millett Highway, according to the Eaton County Sheriff's Ofice.
The victim was identified as Hermes Fernandez-Lopez, 39, of Lansing. The crash was reported at about 9:10 p.m. Thursday.
Officials said Hermes drove a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu around lowered gates at a train crossing and was struck by an Amtrak train heading northeast toward East Lansing.
He was killed on impact, officials said. It is not known if alcohol or drugs were a factor.
Delta Township fire officials said one passenger on the train was treated and released for unknown illness or injury. There were about 120 passengers on the train.
The crash remains under investigation by the Eaton County Sheriff's Office.
Michigan Department of Transportation Communications Director Jeff Cranson said the lights and gates were working at the crossing, and the department will not be investigating further.
There have been nine accidents involving trains at that crossing. Thursday's was the first fatal and the first involving Amtrak.
DELTA TWP. (LANSING STATE JOURNAL) - An Amtrak train heading from Chicago to Port Huron struck a car west of Lansing on Thursday evening, killing the car's occupant and temporarily stranding about 120 train passengers.
The collision occurred about 9:30 p.m. near the intersection of Millett Highway and Lansing Road in Delta Township, according to John Clark, Delta Township Fire Chief.
The vehicle's driver, who was believed to be the car's only occupant, was killed, Clark said. A female passenger on the train was treated and released for an unknown illness or injury.
About 120 people were on the train, and about 70 of those were to disembark at the East Lansing Amtrak station.
Clark said those passengers were being bused late Thursday on Waverly school district buses to the train station. The remaining 50 or so passengers stayed on the train, which had heat and electricity, Clark said. It was not clear when officials would be able to restart the train.
Lee Stone of Aurora, Ill., was in the back of the train and traveling to East Lansing. He said he knew something was wrong, because "The train was slowing down way too fast to be coming up on any station."
Clark said it is unclear what caused the crash, and whether the gates were functioning at the time of the incident or whether the driver tried to go around them. The tracks have both gates and flashing lights.
Lansing State Journal