Police cruiser demolished by freight train

NEWTON FALLS — The Ohio State Highway Patrol said a Newton Township police car left parked on a double set of railroad tracks was demolished when it was struck by a freight train.

A trooper said township Police Officer Thomas Colosimo left his cruiser straddling a double set of tracks at the Miller Grabe Road crossing in the township to go in foot pursuit of three suspected trespassers. There had been some theft of copper wire from CSX railroad property in that area, and Colosimo spotted three suspects who fled when he stopped his cruiser.

The 12,400-ton train was travelling about 50 mph and was able to slow only to 38 mph before hitting the cruiser, police said. The suspected trespassers managed to escape, police said.