PF man killed in car-train crash

A Post Falls man was killed when his car collided with a train at the tracks on Ramsey Road at Diagonal Road near Twin Lakes early Sunday morning.

Albert P. Brunner, 53, was pronounced dead at the scene because of injuries sustained in the crash, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Brunner was driving south on Ramsey approaching the train crossing when his 1993 Mitsubishi 3000 GT collided with the crossing arms in the down position and then struck the Burlington Northern Santa Fe train car that was 17 cars back from the engine.

The train continued until notified of the crash, not realizing a car had struck its side. It eventually stopped about 15 miles north of the scene in Bonner County. Pieces of Brunner’s vehicle were still found attached to the train car.

The initial crash was reported by a passing motorist who found a severely damaged car alongside the railroad tracks in the middle of the road.

The KCSO was dispatched about 12:43 a.m.

Representatives from BNSF responded to the scene and checked the train and track’s condition. Several other trains on the same line were stopped while the incident was investigated. The road in the area was shut down for about four hours.

The KCSO Traffic Team is currently investigating the collision, authorities said.