A Carterville woman whose car was crushed by a southbound Amtrak train Wednesday afternoon miraculously suffered only nonlife-threatening injuries, authorities said.
According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Monique Leonard, 48, of Carterville, drove her 2010 Honda Accord across the railroad tracks on Helms Road at Route 51, south of DeSoto, at about 2:35 p.m. Wednesday, when she was hit by the Amtrak train heading into Carbondale.
Police say she was wearing her seatbelt. She was pulled out of the car and taken to Carbondale Memorial Hospital.
The Honda sustained major damage and pieces of the car were thrown south from the intersection. The intersection was marked with railroad crossing signs on both of east and west sides of the tracks.
Police say a portion of the railroad track was shut down during the investigation, and repairs were needed on the train in order for it to reach the Carbondale Amtrak station.
Officials with Amtrak said there were 32 passengers on the train at the time of the crash and there were no injuries to passengers or employees as of Thursday morning.
