2:15 p.m. update:
Indiana State Police said the driver of a black 2018 Nissan that collided with a train in southern Jackson County has died from his injuries.
Dawson A. Vest, 21, Austin, was driving the car that entered a railroad crossing in the path of a CSX train on County Road 775Sh just west of U.S. 31 near the Jackson/Scott county line at approximately 6:30 pm Monday. The collision with the train caused Vest’s car to overturn, ejecting him from the vehicle. He was airlifted from the scene to a Louisville, Kentucky hospital.
Shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday, Vest passed away as a result of injuries he sustained in the crash. He was pronounced deceased by the Jefferson County, Kentucky Coroner’s Office.
ORIGINAL STORY
CROTHERSVILLE, Ind. — Indiana State Police are investigating a car-train collision near the Jackson and Scott county line at 6:30 p.m. Monday that resulted in the vehicle driver being airlifted from the scene with life-threatening injuries.
The initial investigation by crash reconstructionists from the Indiana State Police-Versailles and Sellersburg Posts indicated that a black 2018 Nissan passenger car being driven by Dawson A. Vest, 21, Austin, Indiana was traveling westbound on County Road 775S, just west of U.S. 31. For an unknown reason, Vest’s vehicle entered a railroad crossing into the path of a northbound CSX train.
The train collided with the driver’s side of the car. After the collision, the car rolled, ejecting Vest from the vehicle. Vest sustained life threatening injuries in the crash. He was air lifted from the scene to a Louisville, KY hospital.
The crossing included railroad crossing signs as well as stop signs for traffic on County Road 775S. County Road 775S was closed for approximately three hours for crash cleanup and investigation. U.S. 31 was briefly closed during the investigation.
The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Crothersville Police Department, Jackson County EMS, Scott County EMS, PHI Medical Helicopter, Westside Towing, CSX Railroad, and Louisville & Indiana Railroad.
