90-Year-Old Man Drives Truck into Train Carrying Hazardous Materials in Bangor

Just last week an elderly woman drove her car through a Bethlehem Dunkin Donuts. This situation made me reiterate my stance that senior citizens could benefit from an extra test once they hit, oh, I dunno, 65 or something?

It’s not to be mean or anything, but, if they are going to be driving around and running their pickup trucks into trains, why not give them an eye test or something?

Or, at least judge their reflexes when dealing with multi-ton oncoming vehicles that can only go on train tracks.

Bangor police said a 90-year-old man failed to see flashing railroad crossing lights and truck a Norfolk Southerntrain on Tuesday afternoon.

Although the train was carrying hazardous materials, no one was injured in the crash that happened shortly after noon at state Route 512 and E. High Street.

…

John A. Castorguay, 90, of Blairstown, N.J., was driving a pickup when he failed to see the railroad crossing lights activated. Inside the truck was a passenger, 88-year-old Agnes Castorguay.

Police said Castorguay’s truck struck the engine portion of the train hauling an undisclosed hazardous materials. The truck then struck a Jeep in the Bank of America parking lot. That Jeep then struck an unattended vehicle in the parking lot. SOURCE: The Morning Call

Yowza!

Again, I can completely understand and explain away fender benders are accidents that happen to any age group. But, when you’re missing an ENTIRE TRAIN then your skills should suspect.