(The following story appeared on the WOFL, FOX 35 website on October 5, 2010.)
ORANGE CITY, Fla. — A man driving an SUV on some railroad tracks in Volusia County was struck by a train early Tuesday morning.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Clifford Kelley Jr., 40, was driving his 2004 Ford Explorer northbound on the tracks in Orange City near Magnolia Avenue just after midnight when a southbound CSX train stuck the vehicle.
The train’s engineer told investigators that he was going about 40 miles per hour when he spotted the vehicle and immediately applied the train¿s brakes. The train was able to slow down to about 15 mph when it struck the vehicle, pushing it about 50 feet down the tracks.
Kelley was airlifted to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach and was listed in stable condition in the intensive care unit Monday morning.
FHP investigators said they don’t believe alcohol was involved.