One individual was transported to the Florence County Detention Center in Effingham in the early hours of March 29 after his vehicle was struck by a train in Lake City.
Thomas Ard, 19, of New Zion, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after failing a field sobriety test.
“The vehicle was either stalled or had gone off of the crossing onto the tracks and got stuck at around 12:20 a.m.,” said Chief Patrick Miles of the Lake City Police Department. “Thankfully, the driver was able to exit the vehicle before the train came through and wasn’t injured.”
Miles said officers reporting to the scene smelled alcohol on the driver and conducted a standard field sobriety test, which Ard failed. Ard remains in custody at the detention center.
The vehicle was struck by the train at the Fairview Street crossing. The train did not leave the tracks and the scene was cleared before dawn and the crossing is open.