Hobart police said a motorist died Wednesday morning after driving around crossing gates and colliding with a freight train.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office on Thursday identified the deceased as Howard Tompkins, 93, of Gary. The manner of death was ruled an accident; the cause of death is pending. Officials identified Tompkins through dental records and said an autopsy is scheduled for Friday.
Assistant Chief Nicholas Wardrip said a 2004 Dodge Caravan was eastbound on 3rd Street approaching the railroad tracks between Colorado and California streets when witnesses said the motorist disregarded crossing gates, lights and train horn, and collided with the train.
The impact dragged the van about 400 feet while it was engulfed in flames, Wardrip said.
The Hobart Fire Department extinguished the fire and found a body inside the vehicle.
The crash happened about 8:50 a.m. and tied up the 3rd and Colorado and Wisconsin Street intersections for several hours as investigators inspected the scene.
Wardrip said the South Lake County Crash Reconstruction Team came to the scene and has begun investigating the crash.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.