Woman injured in train vs. car collision

Law enforcement confirms a Randolph County woman was injured in a train vs. vehicle accident in Higbee Thursday night.

Around 8:35 p.m., firefighters and emergency crews were called to the railroad tracks near Randolph Street.

Randolph County Sheriff Mark Nichols and the Missouri State Highway Patrol says 48-year-old Teresa Beal of Higbee was attempting to cross the tracks in a small Chevrolet car and did not see the train approaching.

Beal’s car was hit by the train, causing her to be ejected from the vehicle. She was not wearing a seat belt according to Highway Patrol troopers.

She was conscious at the scene and was transported by helicopter to University Hospital in Columbia with serious injuries and remains in serious condition.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol was at the scene investigating and re-creating the accident.

Troopers say Beal failed to yield to the train, then was hit.

An ABC 17 News crew at the scene said there are no railroad crossing gates at the intersection, but there was a stop sign and a railroad crossing sign.

Sheriff Nichols says the railroad line is owned by Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. The MSHP says the train was owned by the Kansas City Southern Railroad Company and was pulling 27 cars.