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Video Shows Moment A Line Crashes Into Van

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4)- Police in Aurora have released the video that shows the deadly collision between an A Line train and a van. The crash happened early Tuesday morning.

Police believe the driver of the van intentionally timed the crash on the tracks at Chambers and Smith Road. Officers are investigating the death as a suicide.

a-line-deadly-crash
(credit: Aurora Police)

Investigators told CBS4's Rick Sallinger they reached the conclusion after viewing the video that captured multiple angles of the crash.

The video shows the van inside the gates before the crossing gates came down at 3:40 a.m. Tuesday.

A Line Crash
(credit: CBS)

The van sits there for 38 seconds, apparently waiting for the RTD train to arrive.

TRAIN-TO-THE-PLANE: Timeline Of RTD's A Line

When the train nears the crossing, the van moves forward directly onto the tracks. That's when it is struck by the train which can reach speeds up to 80 mph.

An off-duty Aurora police officer can be seen running away as debris flies into the air.

"He was trying to yell at the guy to get him to move and the guy just wasn't moving," said Aurora Police Sgt. Chris Amsler.

The train dragged the van a quarter of a mile along the tracks. The driver was found deceased inside the van. He has been identified as a 56-year-old man with Colorado identification but his name has not been released. rtd-a-line-crash-map

Investigators examined the crossing gates but have said there is nothing to indicate the gates malfunctioned.

Crossing gate flaggers have been stationed on each side of the gates as standard procedure due to problems with the A Line software that controls the braking system.

"They have the obligation and the ability to be in contact visibly with the person if it's there, they also can radio back to our operation command center," said RTD spokesman Nate Currey.

Currey says at the time of the crash there was electronic contact with the operations center from the crossing.

A Line Crash
(credit: CBS)
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