MATTHEWS, N.C. — Two people were taken to a hospital Wednesday night after a crash that involved their car and a train in downtown Matthews, police said.
The incident occurred shortly after 9:30 p.m. at the tracks near Charles Street.
The Matthews Police Department said they responded to a report about a vehicle being struck by a train while on the train tracks.
The two people inside the vehicle were transported to an area hospital. They have been listed as being in critical but stable condition, according to police.
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Matthew Sullivan told Channel 9 that he works at the Flying Biscuit, just a few feet away from where the train crashed into a car.
He said he didn’t know about the incident until he came to work Thursday morning.
“We come in at six, and probably about 15 minutes later, it was on the news. And it was like, two people were seriously injured in a train,” Sullivan said. “The fact that it’s literally right here in our back doorstep is even more insane. It’s just mind-blowing.”
Evan Cody, another Flying Biscuit employee, said he was driving home when he noticed the road near the crash was blocked off.
“I got on foot, parked, and saw what happened. And I just saw a car stuck under the train, and I saw the ambulance taking a person out on the stretcher,” Cody explained.
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Police said an initial investigation indicates that the railroad crossing audible and visual warnings, including the gate arms, were working property at the time of the incident.
The investigation into this crash is active and ongoing.
This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.