Train Slams Into Marta Bus In Decatur

Nobody was injured early Wednesday morning when a CSX train collided with a Marta bus that apparently stalled on the McDonough Street grade crossing.

Decatur Police Capt. Scott Richards said the bus was heading south on McDonough Street toward Agnes Scott College and stalled on the track about 6:30 a.m.

The bus driver and four passengers got off before the train slammed into the side of the bus, Cara Hodgson, spokeswoman for Marta, said in an email. The bus was operating on Route 123, she said.

"MARTA is in the process of conducting a full investigation. We’ll provide more details as soon as we have them," she said.

Gary Sease, a spokesman for CSX, said the train was going from Augusta to Atlanta when the collision occurred. He said train was mixed freight and included three locomotives and 69 cars. CSX is also investigating.

The area around Decatur High was closed to traffic for several hours, so authorties recommended drivers, cyclists and pedestrians seek alternative routes.

Decatur High altered the exam schedule because students were expected to be late, according to an email sent to parents.

The train pushed the bus into a crossing signal that toppled to the ground. After the bus was removed late Wednesday morning, authorities closed the intersection for traffic while track repairs were made. The closure was expected to last about 24 hours.

This is the second wreck at the McDonough Street crossing in 15 months. In February 2012, a train struck a car there. Nobody was badly injured.

Previous Patch stories about auto-train collisions:

Train hits car in February 2012.

Patch Poll: What's the worst train crossing in Decatur?