, chuck@rustonleader.com
06-25-2007
A Ruston Police
Department spokesman said a Minden woman was killed Monday morning when the
automobile in which she was riding struck a train at a Ruston railroad
crossing.Lt. Curtis Hawkins said Hannah McFarland, 19, the reigning Miss Minden, was killed when a Mitsubishi Eclipse, driven by Rachel Cockrell, struck a Kansas City Southern freight train at the Maple Street railroad crossing.
“The accident occurred at about 6:30,” Hawkins said.
A preliminary investigation showed that the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse, driven by Cockrell was traveling north on Maple Street when it struck the westbound train.
McFarland was ejected from the passenger seat in the vehicle.
She was transported to Northern Louisiana Medical Center Emergency Room by Ruston Ambulance Service and pronounced dead a short time after her arrival.
Cockrell was also transported to Northern Louisiana Medical Center Emergency Room with numerous — but non-life threatening — injuries by Ruston Ambulance Service.
Hawkins said Cockrell told officers with the Ruston PD that she was traveling north on Maple street and did not see any warning signals or hear any train horn.
The engineer of the train, Torrish Pearson, advised officers he could see that the crossing lights were activated and that he sounded the “whistle stop” or “train horn” as required by state regulation and company policy.
Pearson said he immediately began stopping the train when the vehicle struck its side.
Hawkins said it is unknown at this time if either McFarland or Cockrell were wearing their seat belts at the time of impact.
The accident is still under investigation.
McFarland graduated from Minden High School in 2006.
She had completed a year at Bossier Parish Community College and was expected to attend Louisiana Tech University this fall and major in nursing.
Two weeks ago McFarland competed for the Miss Louisiana pageant.
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