A motorist and his female passenger were killed Wednesday when their vehicle was struck by an Amtrak train at the grade-crossing on Porter/Lake County Line Road, just north of U.S. Highway 12, Gary Police said.

The names of the deceased were not released this morning, pending the notification of family.

According to witnesses, at approximately 10:44 p.m. the driver of a 2002 Kia Optima was northbound on County Line Road when he drove around a downed gate and crossed the first set of tracks, used by the South Shore commuter line, Lt. Thomas Pawlak of the GPD told the Chesterton Tribune. As he tried to cross the second set of tracks, used by Amtrak and Norfolk Southern, an eastbound Amtrak, bound for New York from Chicago, struck the Kia in the driver’s side door and pushed the car approximately three tenths of a mile before the train was able to stop.

Both occupants of the Kia were killed instantly, Pawlak said. They were extricated from the vehicle by the Portage Fire Department.

Witnesses advised investigators that the train engineer was laying on the horn prior to impact.

The Amtrak train was comprised of two engines and 10 cars and was carrying 153 passengers. Pawlak reported no injuries among the passengers.

Although the victims were transported to Porter County’s morgue facilities, Pawlak noted, the GPD is investigating the accident because the whole of the grade crossing at U.S. 12 and County Line Road falls within the jurisdiction of the City of Gary. Technically the border of Porter and Lake counties falls just east of County Line Road, he said.

Posted 4/3/2008