Flora Man's Car Hit by Train

A Flora man who fled a car that had become stuck on the CSX tracks east of Salem shortly before it was hit by a train was later arrested for driving on a revoked license.

46-year-old Jesse Ballard told authorities that he lost control of the car on the slick surface of County Farm Road in Marion County early Sunday morning at the rail crossing just south of US Route 50. He reportedly also struck one of the crossing lights at the crossing, with the car then becoming stuck on the tracks.

An oncoming CSX train then struck the car.  The train crew told deputies that they saw a man running from the car before it was struck.  Ballard initially could not be located, however, he was taken into custody after knocking on the door of a nearby home.

Ballard stated that he had been partying and got lost.  He was also reportedly extremely wet and was close to hypothermia after locating the nearby home.

He had recently been released from prison, where he had been serving a sentence for driving on a revoked license.