Rebecca McCoy-Basore, 48, of Hamilton, Ohio is dead after she hit a train just before 2 p.m. Sunday on Country Road E west of county Road 1 in Bartlow Township.
Police say she was headed westbound on County Road E when she pulled into the path of an oncomingCSX train. The train's engineer saw the vehicle and attempted to slow the train down, but didn't have time. The car was pushed 1100 feet by the train.
Lt. Jerrod Savidge of Ohio Highway Patrol said, "I did speak with the engineer, she said she did see the vehicle approaching. The vehicle slowed, however it did not stop."
Deshler Fire Chief Willis Cronniger said, "We knew it probably wasn't going to be good with the call we got from dispatch that the car was still hooked onto the train going down the track."
There are no crossing gates at the intersection, but there are three clearly-visible warning signs as you approach the tracks warning of a crossing ahead. Still, some first responders and residents thought crossing gates could have prevented this accident.
Investigators aren't sure why the woman didn't stop for the oncoming train. Ms. McCoy-Basore was wearing a seatbelt.
A camera did capture the crash on video and the Ohio Highway Patrol is now in the process of obtaining the video and hope that will help to answer some of their questions.