VALPARAISO, Ind. - Police said "it was a miracle" that a man was not killed after his car was crushed, twisted and dragged by a train.
Porter County Sheriff's Department officers said they were shocked Kenneth Liptak Jr., not only survived the crash, but also managed to crawl out of the mangled metal and walk around Saturday morning.
"It was a miracle. I've never seen anything like it," Sgt. Charles Douthett said in a news release.
Liptak's mother, Helen, said she was still in shock hours after hearing about the crash. She said "somebody up there" was looking out for her 30-year-old son.
Liptak, 30, who lives just north of the CSX crossing north of Valparaiso, 20 miles southeast of Gary, was heading south to work when his car was hit by the train and dragged about 200 feet.
He told police he pulled out of his driveway and immediately saw the lights and gates activated. He told police he saw a northbound car drive around the gates and then he looked for westbound trains, telling police the morning trains usually come from that direction.
But he said he did not look the other way.
An eastbound train, traveling 55 mph, struck the passenger side of his station wagon, pushing the car east of the crossing. The mangled wreckage landed upside down.
Liptak, who police said had only minor bruises, declined medical treatment. Police said the 6-foot-4 man wiggled himself free from the wreckage.
Police ticketed Liptak for disregarding a railroad signal at the crossing that was closed for three hours.source