MAN survives pickup truck/train accident in Okmulgee County

Saturday, July 7th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers say a man is lucky to be alive Saturday morning after his vehicle was struck by a train. Troopers say the truck failed to yield at the railroad crossing in Okmulgee County.

The 52-car train carried the pickup 118 feet. A medical helicopter flew the badly injured driver to St. Francis Hospital. No word yet on extent of his injuries. But despite Saturdayâ€™s accident the Oklahoma Highway Patrol says traffic, highway and train related deaths are down this year. By this time last year 15% more people had died.

Last year in July 19 people were killed from vehicle related accidents, so far this month only four people have died.