Local

Woman injured when SunRail train hits car in Maitland

MAITLAND, Fla. — A SunRail train hit a car in Maitland Monday afternoon sending a woman to the hospital.
 
The accident happened near the intersection of Packwood and Maitland avenues.
 
"When I pulled out I heard a lot of honking, the train was blowing, lots of cars blowing and just the impact and the sound," said witness Michelle Grossman.
 
Fire rescue officials said the woman, who is in her late 20s, was just learning how to drive her new car, which has a manual transmission.
 
The woman's car stalled on the tracks and the crossing arm bars came down around 2:15 p.m.
 
Witnesses said the woman was only able to get out of her car after someone behind her honked their horn to warn her of the oncoming train.
 
"She saw the train coming, her vehicle stalled, she tried to get out of the vehicle as soon as she could but the train hit the vehicle and possibly her," said Charles Van Camp, assistant fire chief in Maitland. 
 
SunRail service is shut down while investigators interview everyone who was on the train.
 
The woman, who was struck by her own car, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, according to Maitland police.
 
"Having a mass transit system is a good thing and this is how it starts and these kinds of things happen," said Grossman.

Karla Ray will have details on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 5.

Follow Karla on Twitter: @KRayWFTV