AURORA, Colo. (AP) - The Latest on the fatal collision of a van with a Denver airport train (all times local):
3:40 p.m.
Police are investigating the possibility that the motorist hit and killed by Denver’s airport train intentionally pulled his van in front of the train before arrived at a crossing.
Police say the driver ignored an officer trying to stop him from entering the crossing before its gates and lights activated early Tuesday morning.
Then they say surveillance video shows that the driver waited for 38 seconds on the crossing’s first set of tracks before pulling forward to the second set of tracks as the train was headed toward him and the crossing lights were flashing.
Police Sgt. Chris Amsler says the van’s driver made no attempt to move the van and the train hit it.
An officer and a flagger were stationed at the crossing because of ongoing problems with the train system’s automated gates.
Amsler says the crossing’s gates and lights appeared to work properly during the incident.
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10:25 a.m.
Police and federal railroad officials are investigating after a driver was hit and killed by Denver’s airport train at a railroad crossing.
The crash happened around 3:50 a.m. Tuesday in Aurora as the train was making its way to the airport.
Police Sgt. Chris Amsler says it’s not clear exactly when the crossing gates began closing, but he says they were down when the van was hit.
The gates are automated, but their original software wasn’t designed to allow for potential delays or arrivals. Police officers and flaggers have been posted at railroad crossings as a temporary solution since the train opened nearly a year ago.
Amsler says the police officer posted at the crossing tried to stop the van before it crossed the tracks.
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7:50 a.m.
One person is dead after being hit by Denver’s airport train at a railroad crossing.
The crash happened around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday in Aurora as the train was making its way to the airport.
Aurora Police Sgt. Chris Amsler says a van drove onto the tracks as an off-duty police officer guarding the intersection tried to stop it.
The driver was killed. Four passengers on the train suffered minor injuries.
Amsler says it’s not clear if the crossing gates were closing when the van entered the intersection, but they did close at some point.
The crossing gates are automated, but their original software wasn’t designed to allow for potential delays or arrivals. Police officers and flaggers have been posted at railroad crossings as a temporary solution since the train opened nearly a year ago.
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