A train clipped an SUV that was running around the crossing arms on 240th Street in Maple Ridge on Sunday.
The 2002 SUV was hit by a westbound train at the 240th Street crossing, south of Lougheed Highway, after the driver ignored the flashing lights warning of an oncoming train, and drove around the train crossing gates, which were down at the time.
The oncoming train clipped the back end of the SUV, causing minor damage to the rear quarter panel, according to assistant fire chief Mark Smitton.
When police and fire department arrived on scene, the driver and the vehicle were both gone.
Police tracked down the owner of the SUV and determined the vehicle hadn’t been stolen.
However, a police spokesperson said it’s not yet clear who was behind the wheel of the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Smitton said collisions at train crossings occur as frequently as once a day nationally, and are almost always the fault of the driver ignoring signals to stop or driving around barriers.