Photo by Jessica O'Brien The corner of Roma Pizza, 2400 Franklin St., is boarded up after a Thursday morning accident at the business. The man who ran into the building with a vehicle is the same man who was hit Thursday afternoon by an Amtrak train.
Man who was hit by train also involved in crash at Roma Pizza
By ANDY STEINKE Staff Writer
Published: Friday, April 18, 2014 5:23 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY A Michigan City man who was hit by a train Thursday night was involved in a second accident earlier in the day, according to Michigan City Police
Carlos Cooper Jr., 26, was injured by an Amtrak train Thursday just before 5:30 p.m., less than 15 hours after he was involved in a car-versus-building accident at Roma Pizza.
According to witnesses Thursday night, Cooper was walking eastbound down the Amtrak tracks near 10th and Huron streets, along the side of the track, apparently talking on a cellphone.
The train's warning lights were on and the horn was sounding as it approached Cooper from behind, according to an MCPD news release.
Cooper was hit by the train and thrown from the side of the tracks. City police and fire as well as La Porte County EMS personnel found him lying on the ground next to the tracks.
He was semi-conscious but unable to speak, according to police. He was transported to Franciscan St. Anthony Health before being taken by helicopter to Memorial Hospital of South Bend.
As of Friday afternoon, his condition was unknown.
The speed of the train also was unknown, but the investigation continues. Amtrak Police is assisting in the investigation.
Around 2:23 a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to 2400 Franklin St. Roma Pizza for a GMC Denali that had struck the business.
Officer Anna Painter noted in her report that Cooper's speech was slow and slurred and his eyes were glossy.
She determined he was not intoxicated, and talked to him about medication he was taking. Cooper said he had been diagnosed with lupus and was taking a variety of medication.
He said he was avoiding a pothole in the road when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into Roma.
Cooper complained of head, neck and leg injuries after the crash, Painter reported, and was taken to Franciscan St. Anthony Health for treatment and a urine sample.
He later refused to provide a urine sample and was tentatively charged with OWI refusal, a class A misdemeanor.
One day, two accidents
Man who was hit by train also involved in crash at Roma Pizza
By ANDY STEINKE
Staff Writer
Carlos Cooper Jr., 26, was injured by an Amtrak train Thursday just before 5:30 p.m., less than 15 hours after he was involved in a car-versus-building accident at Roma Pizza.
According to witnesses Thursday night, Cooper was walking eastbound down the Amtrak tracks near 10th and Huron streets, along the side of the track, apparently talking on a cellphone.
The train's warning lights were on and the horn was sounding as it approached Cooper from behind, according to an MCPD news release.
Cooper was hit by the train and thrown from the side of the tracks. City police and fire as well as La Porte County EMS personnel found him lying on the ground next to the tracks.
He was semi-conscious but unable to speak, according to police. He was transported to Franciscan St. Anthony Health before being taken by helicopter to Memorial Hospital of South Bend.
As of Friday afternoon, his condition was unknown.
The speed of the train also was unknown, but the investigation continues. Amtrak Police is assisting in the investigation.
Around 2:23 a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to 2400 Franklin St. Roma Pizza for a GMC Denali that had struck the business.
Officer Anna Painter noted in her report that Cooper's speech was slow and slurred and his eyes were glossy.
She determined he was not intoxicated, and talked to him about medication he was taking. Cooper said he had been diagnosed with lupus and was taking a variety of medication.
He said he was avoiding a pothole in the road when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into Roma.
Cooper complained of head, neck and leg injuries after the crash, Painter reported, and was taken to Franciscan St. Anthony Health for treatment and a urine sample.
He later refused to provide a urine sample and was tentatively charged with OWI refusal, a class A misdemeanor.