A Storm Lake man has escaped virtually unscathed after his vehicle was nearly destroyed by a train Tuesday morning. At approximately 7:52 a.m., the Storm Lake Police Department responded to the Oneida Street railroad crossing near East 3rd Street in reference to an accident involving a minivan and a train. Police determined 19-year-old Luis Santillan, of Storm Lake, was traveling northbound on Oneida Street and did not stop at the posted stop sign at the intersection. The 2007 Chevrolet Uplander he was driving was struck by a westbound Canadian National Railway train. The collision knocked the vehicle to the north side of the tracks where it came to a rest totally disabled. Santillan reported only minor injuries after the accident and declined treatment by paramedics at the site. Damage to the minivan is estimated at $20,000, and no damage was reported to the train. Following an investigation, Santillan has been charged with no valid driver’s license and failure to yield to stop sign at a rail road crossing, both simple misdemeanors. He was cited and released pending a court date. The Buena Vista County Emergency Medical Services assisted at the scene.
