LUMBERTON — An 84-year-old Lumberton man died Sunday, hours after he drove his car around the downed stop arms on a rail track and it was hit by a two-locomotive train, according to the state Highway Patrol .
James Auther Locklear, of the 3000 block of Rennert Road, was traveling south when he came to the crossing on CSX rail tracks just more than two miles west of Pembroke. The warning lights were activated, according to a report by Trooper R.M. Hunt.
Two locomotives comprised the train that was traveling at an estimated 42 mph when it hit Locklear’s 2014 Nissan car in the passenger side, according to the report. The car was dragged a short distance down the track before the locomotives came to a stop.
Locklear was airlifted to a medical facility in Florence, South Carolina, where he died.
It’s not known why Locklear drove around the stop arms. The crossing has a clear view on both sides of oncoming trains, a Highway Patrol spokesman said.
The accident happened on Preston Road at about 1:40 p.m.