A man died Saturday afternoon after his car was struck by a train on the railroad crossing at North Main Street in Kendallville, Indiana. Emergency crews found the driver trapped inside the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. on January 18, 2026, according to Kendallville Police and Noble County dispatch records reviewed by local media.
Crash Details Emerge
Witnesses told police the railroad crossing arms were down and lights were flashing when the car went around the gates and onto the tracks. A Norfolk Southern freight train traveling northbound hit the vehicle broadside.
The force of the impact pushed the car several hundred feet down the tracks. First responders had to cut the roof off to reach the driver, but he showed no signs of life.
The Noble County Coroner’s Office has not yet released the victim’s name pending family notification. He is believed to be a local man in his late 50s.
Crossing Has History of Close Calls
The North Main Street crossing has long worried residents. It sits in a busy part of town near Riley Street and just blocks from the post office and several businesses.
Residents say drivers regularly go around the gates, especially when trains block the route for long periods.
“It happens all the time,” said Kendallville resident Tammy Johnson, who lives two blocks from the crossing. “People get impatient. They see the train coming slow and think they can beat it. This time someone didn’t.”
Records show at least four other crashes at this exact crossing since 2018, though none were fatal until Saturday.
Police Continue Investigation
Kendallville Police, Indiana State Police, and Norfolk Southern investigators remain on scene Sunday morning. They are examining whether the crossing signals worked properly and if the driver tried to go around the gates.
The train’s event recorder and any available surveillance video will be key pieces of evidence.
Norfolk Southern released a short statement Sunday: “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and are cooperating fully with authorities.”
Community in Shock
By Sunday afternoon, flowers and a small wooden cross had already appeared at the edge of the crossing.
Longtime Kendallville resident Mike Salazar stopped by to pay respects. “This one hits different,” he said. “We all use that crossing every day. You always think it won’t happen here, then it does.”
Local leaders say the crash has renewed calls for upgraded safety measures at the North Main Street crossing and others in town.
