Man hit by train airlifted to Seattle

RATHDRUM - The 50-year-old Post Falls man who was struck by a train inside a vehicle on Monday night was airlifted from Kootenai Medical Center to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he was in serious condition on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department, Albert P. Brunner was driving westbound around 9:55 p.m. on Lancaster Road from Atlas Road in a 2001 Ford Focus, passed a stop sign and stopped the vehicle on the Union Pacific railroad tracks for an unknown reason.

Train crews traveling northeast saw the vehicle on the tracks and attempted to stop, but still struck the driver's side near the engine. The vehicle was pushed about a half mile farther before the train came to a stop.

Deputies and a crew from Northern Lakes Fire District extricated Brunner from the vehicle. There were no passengers.

The collision occurred east of Rathdrum near the Coeur d'Alene Airport and where Brunner lives.

"Our train crews saw the car stationary on the track," said Aaron Hunt, UP spokesman. "They did their best to signal that there clearly was going to be a collision and threw on their brakes, but a train that size typically takes a mile to stop.

"Train crews didn't see him make an effort to jump out of the car and run away."

Hunt said he did not know how fast the train was traveling.

The sheriff's department did not release any further details on Tuesday.

Hunt said that, in addition to the stop sign, warning signs are painted in the roadway in advance of the crossing at that intersection. There are no lights or gates.

UP and BNSF Railway collaborate with local law enforcement on a nonprofit Operation Lifesaver program aimed at increasing safety at railroad crossings.

An investigation continues.