Motorist hits side of moving train at crossing at the Port in Chalmette; No one injured but vehicle and train damaged and driver cited for careless operation

A Denham Springs man coming out on the road to the St. Bernard Port in Chalmette hit the side of a moving train at a crossing Thursday night, Feb. 28, and was cited for careless operation but wasn’t injured, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Mark Ross, 20, was north-bound on Melvyn Perez Drive about 6:30 p.m. and stopped on the river side of the crossing for a Norfolk Railroad train.

But Ross told investigating sheriff’s deputies he dropped his cell phone, bent to pick it up, and his foot slipped off the brake and he hit the side of the train, which was west-bound.

No one was injured but the front end of Ross’s truck was damaged, as well the train, the sheriff said.

Ross received a citation for careless operation.