SULLIVAN, MADISON COUNTY -- Updated at 11:57am:
State police have identified the man killed in an accident involving a car and a 70 car CSX freight train. It happened around 6:20pm Tuesday at the CSX railroad crossing on Canaseraga Road in the Town of Sullivan in Madison County. Police say 70-year-old Peter L. Mussachio of East Syracuse stopped on the tracks facing in a northerly direction. The crossing arms were down with the warning flashers activated. The engineers observed the vehicle back up almost clearing the tracks. The train then struck the right fender of the car, spinning it around and ejecting Mussachio. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say Mussachio was traveling to visit relatives in Sherrill at the time. Authorities believe he may have been in the process of removing his seatbelt to get out of the car when he was hit by the train and killed.
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Earlier:
State Police say a man was killed when a freight train collided with his car. The crash happened at about 6:30 Tuesday night on Canaseraga Road in the Town of Sullivan.
Investigators say the crossing arms were down at the time of the crash. They say the car was between the arms. "We just don't really know the cause of this accident," said Lt. Troy Little with the State Police, "but obviously, whenever approaching any train tracks, if you see those lights start flashing, come to a stop. Never try to beat a train. You definitely don't want to be stopping on the tracks, as it appears to be what occurred in this situation."
Police say the train did not derail. They're not sure how fast the train was going at the time of the accident.
The man in the car was pronounced dead on the scene. Police are not releasing his name until his family can be notified.
Amtrak and CSX share the section of track where the crash happened. Amtrak passenger trains were operating on a delay for part of the night. Trains are running in the area again.
