PORTLAND — A city man was charged with three violations Tuesday after he drove into the Amtrak Downeaster at the crossing on Brighton Avenue near St. John Street on Jan. 27 around 8 a.m.
Derso Mekonen, 56, whose address was not released, was issued summonses on a charge of driving to endanger, two charges of endangering the welfare of a child and a civil violation for failure to obey a railroad safety device, Police Lt. Robert Martin said.
Mekonen allegedly pulled around a row of stopped vehicles in an attempt to beat the train, Martin said.
His children, ages 5 and 9, were in the 2008 Nissan Sentra with Mekonen. They were unhurt, but Martin said Mekonen was taken to Maine Medical Center for treatment of non life-threatening injuries.
No injuries were reported by passengers aboard the train.
The Boston-bound Downeaster, train No. 682, was able to stop quickly, but the front end of the Nissan was hit as the sedan was pushed away from the tracks. The vehicle came to rest just off Brighton Avenue in front of the crossing gate.
Traffic was diverted from Brighton Avenue for about two hours, but the street had reopened by 10 a.m., Martin said.
Amtrak reported the Downeaster was running about 40 minutes late.
David Harry can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 110 or dharry@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidHarry8.
A 2008 Nissan Sentra that struck the Amtrak Downeaster on Brighton Avenue in Portland on Jan. 27 was pushed off the street and away from the railroad tracks. (Dan D’Ippolito / For The Forecaster)
Police investigate the Jan. 27 collision in Portland between a 2008 Nissan Sentra driven by Derso Mekonen and the Amtrak Downeaster. Mekonen faces charges for allegedly trying to beat the train through the Brighton Avenue crossing. (Dan D’Ippolito / For The Forecaster)
Two children, ages 5 and 9, were unhurt Jan. 27 after a car driven by Derso Mekonen struck the Amtrak Downeaster as it crossed Brighton Avenue around 8 a.m. Police said Mekonen pulled around stopped vehicles to beat the train through the crossing. (Dan D’Ippolito / For The Forecaster)
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