Free Press Staff

ESSEX - One person was hospitalized following a crash involving a car and a freight train late Thursday morning in Essex Junction, police say.

Central and North streets in the Five Corners area were closed for several hours following the 11 a.m. collision, Cpl. Rick Garey said in a statement.

The railroad crossing lights and signal on Central Street near the train station had been activated for more than 50 seconds before a car driven by Jane Rowe, 54, of Essex Junction "drove over the railroad tracks directly in front of the train," Garey said.

The New England Central Railroad engineer and conductor both applied the emergency brakes, Garey said, but were unable to prevent the collision.

Rowe, the only person in her vehicle, was taken to the hospital for treatment of her injuries. She was in serious condition Thursday night, having been upgraded from critical condition earlier in the day, a hospital spokesman said.

Police asked that drivers avoid Central and North streets while the investigation was underway.

"We do not anticipate any criminal charges," Garey said.

A photograph from the scene provided by a witness showed a Chrysler sedan partway on the tracks, with emergency workers huddled over a stretcher. The train appeared to have struck the car on the passenger side.

This story was first posted online on Nov. 10, 2016, and has been updated.

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