Pa. man watches helplessly as train squashes truck

[August 05, 2008]  BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) -- Nathan Miller learned the hard way that "Road Closed" signs are posted for a reason. The 25-year-old Milesburg man ventured onto a closed road Sunday afternoon in search of good fishing at Bald Eagle State Park, but got his pickup truck stranded on some railroad tracks.

After trying for 45 minutes to dislodge the truck, Miller said he could do nothing but step back and watch a Norfolk Southern train smash into it.

"I backed up a little bit and watched the show," he said. "It looked just like TV but louder."

Signs clearly stated the road was closed, but Miller said he decided to "give it a shot" after hearing about the fishing spot. He has no intentions of going back.

"I was an idiot," Miller said. "Pretty much a local idiot just trying to go fishing."

Police cited Miller for trespassing.

Neighbors could hear the train screeching its brakes for some time before the crash, and state police said no one was hurt.

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Information from: Centre Daily Times, http://www.centredaily.com/

[Associated Press]

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