Portland Man Drives Car Into Path Of Amtrak Train, Police Say

A man in Portland on Friday drove his 2008 Nissan Sentra around a line of vehicles stopped a railroad crossing and into the path an Amtrak train, police said.

At 8 a.m., Derso Mekonen, 56, of Portland crashed into the train at a railroad crossing on Brighton Avenue near St. John Street, the Portland Police Department said Friday.

Police said the crossing signals were working, and the gates were down prior to the collision.

Two children who were riding in Mekonen's vehicle, ages 5 and 9, were not injured in the accident. The children, who are not related to Mekonen, were released to their mother.

Mekonen was transported to Maine Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

The accident is being investigated by the Portland Police Department, and the department says no charges will be filed until that investigation is complete.