Train hits parked Richmond Police vehicle when officer was responding to separate call

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A train hit a Richmond Police officer's patrol vehicle that was partially parked on railroad tracks Monday evening when he was responding to a call. No one was injured, according to officials.

At 5:10 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 4, police said a Norfolk Southern train hit a parked Richmond Police Department vehicle that was partially on the railroad tracks at the interchange of Forest Hill Avenue and Powhite Parkway.

According to police, officers were called for a separate incident on the CSX train trestle spanning the James River near Riverside Drive and Breckenridge Road. When officers arrived, they found CSX special agents on the trestle who were responding to the incident.

CSX train operations were reportedly notified of the activity on the tracks and operations were suspended. Officers and agents de-escalated the situation.

A short distance away, at the Norfolk Southern train crossing at Forest Hill Avenue, police said an officer had parked his patrol vehicle in the gravel area off of Forest Hill Avenue and the on-ramps for the Powhite Parkway, with a portion of the vehicle overlapping the track.

The officer walked down the Norfolk Southern track to try to support other officers assisting in the de-escalation situation, but he was not aware that the call was on the CSX track rather than the Norfolk Southern line.

Police said a Norfolk Southern freight train approached the intersection of Forest Hill Avenue and hit the Richmond Police Department vehicle. There were no injuries.

Forest Hill Avenue and the southbound Powhite Parkway exit ramp were closed until about 9 p.m. on Monday as police and train company personnel investigated and made the area safe for travel.