Deaf Today: Deaf woman not hurt when train hits her car in Knoxville

February 9, 2003

Deaf woman not hurt when train hits her car in Knoxville

From: Knoxville News Sentinel, TN - 09 Feb 2003

A deaf South Knoxville woman escaped injury when a slow-moving train struck her car on Island Home Avenue.

Clara M. Lindsey, 60, of Island Home Avenue, was crossing the railroad tracks near Hillwood Drive when the crash occurred Friday about 10:40 a.m. Her 2001 Honda Civic was struck on the passenger side and slung across the two-lane road. It came to rest atop a toppled wood pole that held the railroad-crossing sign.

Knoxville police officer M. Riddle said Lindsey's disability kept her from hearing repeated warnings from the Knoxville and Holston River Railroad engine. Riddle cited Lindsey on a charge of failure to yield.

Larry Dudley, 52, of Sevierville, who was running the engine, said it was moving about 8 mph at impact. The engine, which was not pulling any train cars, stopped about 30 feet past the crossing. Dudley, assistant general manager of the railroad, said he was en route to Volunteer Asphalt to collect empty tankers when the crash occurred.