STRUTHERS 2 face trial in railroad trespassing

An ATV got stuck on the tracks, delaying progress by four freight trains.
STRUTHERS -- Judge James R. Lanzo set a trial date of Sept. 11 for John N. Armeni, 30, of North Lima Road, Poland, and Kimberly A. Sheehan, 41, of Hillsville, Pa., during their arraignments on criminal trespassing charges Monday in municipal court.
Both are charged after an incident Sunday evening that delayed four fully loaded freight trains.
Police reports say Armeni was operating An All-Terrain Vehicle on CSX railroad tracks about 300 yards east of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (Bridge Street Bridge) around 7:15 p.m. when the conductor of an eastbound train spotted him and Sheehan, who was a passenger, and activated the train's emergency brake.
The ATV was caught on the tracks, the report says, and Armeni succeeded in freeing it and moving to the westbound tracks just as the eastbound train passed.
Another one coming
The conductor of the eastbound train radioed the conductor of a westbound train a few minutes away and notified him to activate his emergency brake, too. Then, the conductor shouted to Armeni that an eastbound train was on its way and instructed him to clear the tracks.
Again, Armeni's ATV got caught on the tracks.
The conductor pulled Sheehan to safety and Armeni succeeded in freeing the ATV before it was struck by the westbound train.
Two other trains traveling behind those stalled on the tracks also had to be stopped.
Armeni told police he had made a wrong turn, that he had intended to ride his ATV along an abandoned access road.
He got caught on the railroad tracks, however, and was searching for a safe place to exit.
Armeni and Sheehan were both released after posting $100 cash bonds.