More than a week after Lynn Eggenberger was pulled from her vehicle just minutes before a train plowed through it, Magnolia PD is considering using the incident as a warning against drunk driving.

The department reported that since Jan. 1 there have been 68 motor vehicle accidents and 30 DWI citations. Of the motor vehicle accidents, four were related to drinking and driving.

Police Chief Domingo Ibarra expressed how the video taken of the incident from Cpl. Lopez’s dashboard camera shows a cause and effect.

Pictured, Lynn Eggenberger’s Honda Civic which was destroyed by an impact with a train on the railroad tracks along FM 1774 in Magnolia.

“This could have been very tragic,” Ibarra said. “There were 114 cars being pulled by that train. That’s 7,200 feet.”

According to Lopez, Eggenberger had been traveling east on Nichols Sawmill at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 23. She continued through the stop light at FM 1774, through the grass, over the train tracks and then U-turned to attempt to head back west towards FM 1774. However, her car would not make it back over the tracks the second time.

“She had no idea where she was,” Lopez said.

Director of Corporate Relations and Media for Union Pacific Raquel Espinoza reported that the speed limit for trains in the Magnolia area is 40 miles per hour and the train was travelling under that speed limit.

Lopez escorted Eggenberger to his patrol car, which was parked a short distance away, dispatched wrecker services and notified Union Pacific. Nearly four minutes later, Lopez spotted a train and began rushing to get his patrol car away from possible flying debris.

The train crashed into Eggenberger’s car and carried the car more than 100 yards down the tracks after impact.

Espinoza explained there wasn’t enough time for authorities to notify the train conductor of the impending collision.

“Dispatch can get in direct contact with the conductor. However, with this instance, there was no time,” Espinoza said. “The train takes more than a mile to stop.”

Espinoza said that the conductors were very stressed by the situation and have been put in contact with support groups.

Meanwhile, the Magnolia Police Department is considering ways to make the video beneficial to the public. They intend to use the video towards an educational campaign for drunk drivers and as a public announcement to the city.

“There is nothing more dramatic than to see a train plowing into a car,” Ibarra said.

In addition to the video, Ibarra anticipates media reports of the incident will open the eyes of those who have witnessed drunk driving or been involved in drinking and driving.

“If you see someone driving while intoxicated, call us. You are helping us stop a life changing event,” Ibarra said.

Union Pacific also has a 24-hour response center and works closely with law enforcement. For emergencies such as signal malfunctions or cars on tracks, call 911, or the number provided at each railroad crossing, 1-800-772-7677.

“Err on the side of caution. It could be worse” Ibarra said.

Eggenberger was charged with DWI, first offense, a class B misdemeanor. She was released from jail on a $600 bond.

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