Camden County train-car crash victim identified
Police have identified Christopher Benner, 37, of Haddon Heights, as the motorist who was killed Friday when a freight train hit his car at a crossing on the borough's main street. He died at the scene on Station Avenue when a southbound freight train hit his driver's side close to 3 a.m., Haddon Heights Police Chief Richard Kinkler said Monday. Benner was heading east on Station Avenue across the tracks. Witnesses said Benner, a Haddon Heights native, didn't react to the train's horn or the bells or lights at the intersection, Kinkler said. There is no gate at the crossing. Train speed in the area is limited to 12 m.p.h. Kinkler said he didn't know from where Benner was coming, but it appears he was heading home. Kinkler said it doesn't appear that Benner was racing across the tracks and was driving right around the 25 m.p.h speed limit. The investigation is continuing. Station Avenue is the main east-west connector in a town divided by the railroad, and borough officials activated the community wide notification system to alert residents that the roadway would be closed during the Friday morning rush hour. Benner's survivors include his parents and a daughter. Contact staff writer Darran Simon at 856-779-3829 or dsimon@phillynews.com.
Police have identified Christopher Benner, 37, of Haddon Heights, as the motorist who was killed Friday when a freight train hit his car at a crossing on the borough's main street. He died at the scene on Station Avenue when a southbound freight train hit his driver's side close to 3 a.m., Haddon Heights Police Chief Richard Kinkler said Monday. Benner was heading east on Station Avenue across the tracks. Witnesses said Benner, a Haddon Heights native, didn't react to the train's horn or the bells or lights at the intersection, Kinkler said. There is no gate at the crossing. Train speed in the area is limited to 12 m.p.h. Kinkler said he didn't know from where Benner was coming, but it appears he was heading home. Kinkler said it doesn't appear that Benner was racing across the tracks and was driving right around the 25 m.p.h speed limit. The investigation is continuing. Station Avenue is the main east-west connector in a town divided by the railroad, and borough officials activated the community wide notification system to alert residents that the roadway would be closed during the Friday morning rush hour. Benner's survivors include his parents and a daughter.