Train collides with car; man cited for DWI

Published 12:00 am Friday, February 23, 2007

Police arrested Corey Anthony Mathison, 22, of Albert Lea for third-degree DWI charges around 11:30 p.m. Thursday after he drove his car off the road and got stuck on some railroad tracks. He fled the scene, and his car was hit by an oncoming train.

According to police reports, Mathison was driving northbound on South Broadway Avenue at a high rate of speed, and when the road curves off around 7th Avenue, he went off the road and ended up on the train tracks.

Reports indicated when the 2000 Ford Focus that he was driving got stuck on the tracks, Mathison got out of the car and took off running. An approaching train then hit the car at a speed of about 10 mph.

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According to the train conductor who was driving the train, the train was traveling at 23 miles an hour, but after he saw the car on the tracks, the emergency brakes were activated, and the train&8217;s speed was able to be lowered to 10 mph, reports stated.

Officers eventually located Mathison on East 11th Street and arrested him for the DWI charges.

Reports stated there were 150 feet of skid marks on the road prior to the area that he left the roadway, and there was heavy front-end damage to Mathison&8217;s car.

Mathison walked away without any injuries.

Woman cited for illegal consumption

Police arrested Tasia Lynn Bellrichard, 20 of Albert Lea for giving false information to an officer and illegal consumption at 9:44 p.m. Thursday. According to police reports, police received a call that there might be an underage person drinking at Chasers, and when officers arrived, they talked with Bellrichard, who gave them a false date of birth. One of the officers knew Bellrichard was not old enough to drink, and she was cited with the charges.