A driver escaped injury August 1 when her car struck a train engine at the railroad crossing a mile west of Sanborn.
According to the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, a Canadian Pacific train was eastbound at approximately 1:15 p.m. with the locomotive being operated by Engineer John M. Shannon, age 47. Upon approaching Redwing Ave. the crew sounded the train’s horn. All lights on the front of the locomotive were on and functioning properly. A 2009 Buick Enclave, driven by Lindsey Jo Reese, age 32 of Lake Park, was northbound on Redwing Ave. Reese stated she thought the train was stopped but upon hearing the train’s horn tried to stop. Reese locked up her brakes, leaving skid marks, and pulled to the right shoulder of the road. The Enclave hit the side of the locomotive under the area where the engineer sits, sustaining an estimated $4,000 damage to the front driver’s side. The locomotive appeared only to have scuff marks from the impact. No other damage was observed. Train conductor Brian Halsey was also in the locomotive and witnessed the accident.
Reese, who was not injured, was cited for failure to properly stop at a railroad crossing.The flash flooding made roadways impassable in Sioux Center, Rock Valley and Boyden. Sioux Center experienced a power outage when water damaged a transformer. A no-travel advisory was issued in Sioux County and the Sioux Center area was under a tornado warning from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
On Sunday, Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Sioux County as well as Lee County. Residents in extreme southeast Iowa also experienced flooding and power outages due to severe weather on Saturday.