(The following story by Natasha Robinson appeared on the Rocky Mount Telegram website on November 29.)
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Authorities are investigating if drugs or alcohol impaired a 28-year-old man who was able to walk away unharmed Saturday after crossing train tracks and being hit by two trains going in opposite directions.
Police said Pierre Tucker, 28, drove his Nissan around railroad crossing gates that were activated to warn that a train was approaching.
“The cross arms were down, and he was going,” said Rocky Mount Police Department Sgt. B.R. Carlton.
An Amtrak train headed north struck the car, which caused the vehicle to collide with a CSX freight train headed south. Tucker was crossing at Gold Leaf and Main streets in Rocky Mount.
Carlton said Tucker was not injured in the 11:30 a.m. wreck that totaled his vehicle, but was taken to Nash General Hospital for observation.
Tucker had been discharged from the hospital by 3 p.m. Saturday, a spokeswoman at the hospital said.
The crash still is under investigation, and Tucker could face charges, Carlton said.
“It is undetermined if alcohol or drugs were involved,” Carlton said.
The Amtrak train, which was coming from New York, was delayed about an hour and a half as a result of the accident, Amtrak spokeswoman Jenise Parker said.