Man Found Guilty After Playing 'Chicken' With Freight Train

A 54-year-old man who was train after playing “chicken” with it last Saturday night was found guilty Monday of disorderly conduct while intoxicated and trespassing on railroad property.

Both charges are minor misdemeanors.

He was fined $150 on each charge, plus court costs, by Lakewood Municipal Court Judge Patrick Carroll. 

The man — who lives in the 1600 block of Clarence Avenue — suffered only minor injuries, including broken ribs.

The incident stems from an incident at around 10:22 p.m. July 9, when a train on the Norfolk Southern tracks struck the Lakewood resident after he was playing “chicken” with the train, according to police.

The train hit its brakes after striking him, which subsequently disrupted the flow of traffic on several roads east and west of Belle Avenue. 

Lakewood police, who last week, said he was intoxicated at the time of the incident. 

“It’s a twist on the old adage that guns and alcohol don’t mix — I guess alcohol and trains don’t mix either,” said Lakewood Police Chief Timothy Malley. “Not too many people live to tell other people they were hit by a train.”

He said that the number of incidents has decreased during the past 10 years, after barricades were installed at each railroad crossing.

“The lights and the gates are there are to keep people away,” added Malley. “Every accident we’ve had like this in Lakewood, the train always wins.”