A 32-year-old man’s beige Lincoln vehicle is looked over by members of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department and Lauderdale County Fire Services following a mid-morning collision Monday.at the Marion-Russell railroad crossing in Russell. The man was air-lifted to the University Medical Center in Jackson.

By Jeff Byrd

jbyrd@themeridianstar.com

    RUSSELL — A 32-year-old man, Carroll Lynnwood Puckett Jr., of the Russell Community, was air-lifted to the University Medical Center in Jackson mid-day Monday after his Lincoln-Mercury car went through a railroad guard crossing and hit a Norfolk-Southern Railroad maintenance train at the Marion-Russell crossing near U.S. 11/80.

    A medical helicopter landed at the Marion-Russell crossing to airlift the 32-year-old male from the scene and to UMC in Jackson. His condition was not disclosed.

    “We had one male driver, with no passengers, driving a Lincoln and it collided with the train,” said Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie. “Multiple agencies, including LEMA, Metro Ambulance, the Lauderdale County Fire Services, Russell Volunteer Fire Department and deputies from the sheriff’s department responded.”

    Sollie said he was informed of the accident at 10:47 a.m.

    “It happened shortly before that,” he said.

    Sollie said all train companies that use the railroad were notified of the delays. This included the east-bound Amtrak train to Birmingham, which was delayed by at least an hour.

    The Lincoln car was dragged nearly 40 yards from the Marion-Russell crossing and its entire roof and glass was demolished.

    “Once again, we urge the motorists that the crossing signals are there for a reason,” Sollie said. “It’s their to protect your life and your vehicle.”