(The Sea Coast Echo posted the following story by Shannon Jenkins on its website on October 13.)
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. — A 31-year-old Waveland man suffered multi-system trauma Thursday after his truck was struck by a train shortly after 4:30 p.m.
Witnesses said a man, later identified as Michael A. Jez, turned onto the railroad tracks near the intersection of Nicholson and Central avenues and drove approximately 15 feet to the east where he stopped. Jez then reportedly got out of his vehicle.
Witnesses then screamed at him, trying to warn him that a train was coming. They claimed he got back in his truck and drove head-on into the westbound train. A Union Pacific Train hit the truck and came to a stop approximately 850 feet west of the railroad crossing at Nicholson, according to a statement from the Waveland Police Department.
Hillary Wild and Nick Lenain, both of Waveland, were the first bystanders on the scene of the accident.
Wild said she and Lenain were driving eastbound on Central when they heard a crunching sound.
“We saw the train pushing the truck down the tracks,” she said. “We talked to (Jez) until the cops arrived.”
Wild said Jez’s lip was busted open and blood covered his face from a wound in his head.
Waveland Police Chief James Varnell said approximately 20 emergency officers worked the accident. It took over an hour to clean up the area.
Waveland Fire Department officers used the Jaws of Life to extricate Jez from his vehicle.
American Medical Response transported him to Hancock Medical Center. A hospital representative said he has since been transferred to another facility.
Varnell said the railroad company could possibly bring charges against Jez.
“That’s private property,” he said.
Although no explanation as to why Jez drove into the train has been discovered, Varnell said his blood test has been sent to a crime lab for testing.
Investigators James Goss and Howard Parker are in charge of the investigation with the assistance of officer Casey Favre.