TWO ARE INJURED WHEN CAR ATTEMPTS TO BEAT TRAIN ACROSS RAILROAD TRACKS

DEXTER -- Two people were seriously injured Thursday night when a car tried to beat a train across the railroad tracks in Dexter.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reported that at about 8:20 p.m. a Union Pacific train struck a vehicle that had failed to stop at a railroad crossing and then went around the lowered gates at Walnut Street.

David Webster, 30, of Dexter was seriously injured when the train struck the car. A passenger, Jacque Clayton, 16, of Dexter was also seriously injured in the accident.

Clayton had to be cut out of the car by the Dexter Fire Department.

In the collision, Webster's car was totaled, with the rear wheel coming to rest about 50 feet from the vehicle. A crossing gate was also broken when the car hit it.

Ronald Snow, 40 of St. Louis was the engineer of the train.

Both Clayton and Webster were transported to Dexter Memorial Hospital by the Stoddard County Ambulance Service. Clayton was released Friday. Webster was listed in stable condition Friday.