Train strikes car after woman fails to hear whistle

From: Knoxville News Sentinel, TN - 07 Feb 2003

By News-Sentinel staff
February 7, 2003

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

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

Knoxville Police Department Officer M. Riddle said Lindsey's hearing disability kept her from hearing the 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 commandeering the engine, said the machine was moving about 8 mph upon 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.

Copyright 2003, Knoxville News-Sentinel Co.