The elderly couple who survived a collision with a freight train Thursday have been identified.
Vero Beach Police have identified the driver as Joseph Eramo, 86, and the passenger as Martha Eramo, 83, both of Vero Beach.
They are being treated for non-life threatening injuries at Lawnwood Regional Medcial Center.
Reported: Thursday Dec. 26, 12:32 p.m.
An elderly couple was taken to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries after their vehicle collided with a freight train in the area of Aviation Boulevard and US 1 in Vero Beach Thursday.
“Call it God, it’s a miracle,” Vero Beach Police spokesman Darrell Rivers said of the couple’s relatively minor injuries given they were hit head-on by the train.
The couple was eastbound on Aviation when they tried to make a northbound turn on US 1. The railroad crossing’s arms went down as they entered the crossing, which is believed to have confused the driver, Rivers said. The driver just stopped on the tracks, witnesses told investigators.
The elderly male driver sustained a head injury while the elderly female complained of neck and back pain, Rivers said.
The train was southbound on the tracks, hauling a number of freight cars. Rivers couldn’t say how many cars the train was moving.
He said the train would not have been able to stop ahead of the vehicle.
“There’s no way you can slow down for that,” Rivers said.
Vero Beach Police and Indian River Fire Rescue responded to the scene around Noon Thursday.
Drivers are encouraged to avoid the area until the area is released. The train is currently stopped on the tracks along US 1.
This article will be updated as information becomes available.
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