The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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  • Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Troop J, Garfield County Sheriff Department, Enid Police Department, Enid Fire Department and Life EMS work a truck-train crash between 78th and 90th Street on East 412 Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013. (Staff Photo by BONNIE VCULEK)

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  • Stanley's Wrecker Service employees prepare a wrecked truck for transport after it collided with a train between 78th and 90th on U.S. 412 east of Enid Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troop J, Garfield County Sheriff Department, Enid Police Department, Enid Fire Department, and Life EMS responded to the accident scene. Traffic was detoured around the around the accident area. (Staff Photo by BONNIE VCULEK)

    Train_Truck Crash_2_BV.jpg

Discussion

February 7, 2013

Police say driver admits distraction before hitting train

By Cass Rains, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID, Okla. — The driver of a pickup that struck a train Thursday morning just east of 78th on U.S. 412 told a trooper he was looking at his radio before he realized traffic had stopped.

The 8:46 a.m. collision initially closed all lanes of traffic on U.S. 412 east of Enid, according Oklahoma Highway Patrol’s Troop J. The outside, eastbound lane opened at 9:10 a.m. and both westbound lanes re-opened about 10 minutes later. All lanes were back open to traffic by 9:35 a.m.

OHP Trooper Tanner Beckner said Derrick Roberts, of Woodward, was transported from the scene to a hopsital, treated for a head injury and released. Roberts was cited for failure to devote full time and attention to driving.

Beckner said Roberts was westbound in a late-model Ford F-250 pickup as the train was crossing the highway. Roberts said he was looking down at his radio before he realized traffic had stopped, Beckner said.

Roberts swerved into the median to avoid hitting vehicles on the road, made contact with the train and came to rest on the westbound side of the highway.

Roberts was the sole occupant of the truck, and no other injuries were reported.

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