By KALIN KROHE
Panhandle Post
On Jan. 7 at approximately 2:10 a.m. the Scottsbluff police were dispatched to the intersection of West Railway and West 20th Street to a train vs. vehicle collision.
A 2008 white Dodge Nitro driven by 37-year -old Ruben Castillo of Scottsbluff was west bound on West 20th Street. Castillo failed to stop at the lowered railroad crossing arms and proceeded to cross the railroad tracks in front of the approaching east bound BNSF train.
The train impacted the Dodge Nitro causing Castillo to be ejected from the vehicle.
The Dodge Nitro came to rest on the west side of the tracks approximately 25 feet south of West 20th Street.
Castillo was transported by Valley Ambulance to Regional West Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Scottsbluff police said Castillo was issued a citation for Driving Under the Influence and Failure to Stop at the railroad crossing.
The vehicle was a total loss and was towed from the scene.
"The BNSF train sustained minor damage and both east and west bound railroad crossing arms were damaged," Scottbluff Police Sgt. Steven Lopez said. "The crossing was closed during the investigation for approximately 3 hours."
Scottsbluff Fire Department and Valley Ambulance assisted in the response.