GIFFORD — An incident where a freight train struck a car on the railroad tracks is under investigation by the Florida East Coast Railway police.
Indian River County deputies responded to the scene shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday at 43rd Street and Old Dixie Highway in Gifford , just west of U.S. 1 and south of Gifford Middle School. Deputies saw the unoccupied car on the side of the tracks.
The rear passenger side had extensive damage. The train had stopped shortly after the crash, then slowly took back off after about 30 minutes.
PHOTO BY NICK SAMUEL
Witnesses told deputies that the two people that were in the car fled on foot and got into another vehicle, according to Sgt. Patrick White. Details on any injuries were not available.
The crash closed 43rd Street between Old Dixie Highway and 26th Street, White said. The time the roadway reopened and the cause of the crash were not available.
The FEC police will be investigating the incident, White said.