Woman’s vehicle hit by train while she’s on the phone with 911, Columbia police say
A woman is charged with driving under the influence after her vehicle was struck by a train, according to Columbia Police Department..
Audreyanna Haggins drove on the 1600 block of Columbia College Dr. in north Columbia just after 1 a.m, Officer P.J. Blendowski said. As she approached a set of railroad tracks, she went off the side of the road. After drifting off the street, her vehicle went over the tracks and got stuck, according to Blendowski.
Amtrak’s Silver Star Train 91 passenger carrier out of New York was traveling through Columbia at the moment Haggins was stalled. She got out of the vehicle and called 911. While on the phone with dispatchers the train hit her vehicle, Blendowski said.
Columbia Police Department officers arrived at the scene to investigate.
A breathalyzer test determined that 30-year-old Haggins had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit, according to court records. Officers arrested and charged her with DUI. She was booked at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center where she is awaiting a bond hearing as of Friday morning.
The collision caused the Amtrak train to have mechanical issues, delaying it for more five hours, Amtrak reported. Another Amtrak passenger train out of Miami was delayed almost four hours because of the collision.
No one was injured.
This story was originally published November 29, 2019 at 9:46 AM.