Man dies after train strikes car in Gary, pushes it into Portage

A Chicago man died Tuesday night after his car was hit by an eastbound train and pushed from Gary over the county line into Portage, officials said.

The Porter County Coroner’s Office revealed the identity of the man, and his name is Demetrius Parrish, aged 29. Officials said he apparently went around the gates at the railroad crossing at County Line Road and U.S. 20 when his car was struck by a CSX train.

Portage Fire Chief Randy Wilkening said Parrish was southbound on County Line Road.

“Technically he was on the Gary side but got pushed on Portage’s side behind the Depot Dog,” Wilkening said, adding his department got a call regarding the crash around 8:25 p.m. and discovered Parrish’s car on its side in a ravine.

Parrish, who was inside the car alone, died at the scene, Wilkening said, adding officials cleared the scene and resumed County Line Road after 11 p.m.

The Portage Fire Department has gotten enough calls about car-train accidents at that crossing over the years, Wilkening said, adding first responders from Gary and Portage typically are called to the scene due to its location.

“It’s a guarded crossing. People get impatient and unfortunately it doesn’t end well because in car against train, the train usually wins,” he said.

Gary police, who also were dispatched to the scene, are asking that anyone with details related to the incident can contact the department’s traffic division at 219-881-1271.

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.