Staff report
CHINA GROVE ó A Salisbury man suffered a broken collarbone and ankle when he drove his pickup onto railroad tracks and was hit by a Norfolk Southern freight train Thursday, police said.
Joshua Allen Nance, 24, 307 Philip Drive, has been released from Carolinas Medical Center, a hospital official said Friday.
Nance drove around crossing arms at the railroad crossing on Church Street just after 10 a.m. Thursday.
Police Chief Hodge Coffield said Nance, operating a 1999 Ford F150 pickup, had apparently been to a local farm and garden supply store and picked up materials.
As he was headed east on Church Street, the crossing arms started down. At least one vehicle in front of him stopped. Coffield said Nance drove around the car and got around the crossing arm before it came down completely.
The train headed north and operated by John Franklin Kennedy, of Columbia, S.C., struck the truck.
The truck was a total loss. Damage to the train engine was estimated at $10,000.
Nance was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center.
Officer J.E. Briggs investigated the accident. Charges are pending.