Photo taken from Google Maps

PLYMOUTH — A driver who observed headlights and believed those lights belonged to a vehicle, on the side of road, were instead the light of an oncoming train. The vehicle’s driver and passenger were injured and taken to a local hospital.

Marshall County Sheriff’s Department reports at 9:27 p.m. Sunday, Plymouth EMS and Fire along with sheriff’s officers were called to Lincoln Highway and Iris Road for a train vs. vehicle accident. Officers arrived to find the driver, Cody C. Edge, 20, Plymouth, sitting in the driver’s seat of his 2013 Ford Focus. Edge complained of pain to his abdomen and head. They also found a front seat passenger, Christian C. Bastardo, 18, Plymouth, who complained of general pain.

Edge was transported to Plymouth Hospital for immediate attention. Bastardo was transported to the hospital by family members for an examination.

Through the officer’s investigation, Edge was northbound on Iris Road, south of Lincoln Highway. As he approached the train tracks, he stopped his vehicle and looked for traffic. He thought he saw headlights of a vehicle on the side of Lincoln Highway and proceeded onto the tracks. Bastardo alerted Edge it was not a vehicle, but a train. Edge reportedly panicked and decided to put the vehicle in reverse to move off the tracks, but unknowingly put the vehicle into neutral and was unable to get off the tracks and out of the way of the train.

The train made contact with the driver’s side front of the vehicle, causing it to be pushed off the southeast side of the intersection, south of the tracks.

It is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the incident. The accident is still under investigation.