Woman hit by train in Sandusky

SANDUSKY — A 31-year-old Sandusky woman was taken to the hospital Sunday afternoon after being hit by a train in west Sandusky.A police report identified the woman as Sarah Likens, 31, 1800 block of Superior St. Her condition was not immediately available. The injuries were severe enough, however, that Firelands Regional Medical Center decided to send her to Toledo for treatment, said Lt. Rich Braun of the Sandusky Police Department. The weather did not allow her to be taken by medical helicopter, so she was being taken by ambulance, Braun said. The police report stated she was taken to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo. A hospital telephone operator said the hospital did not have a patient by that name. Police received a call at 3:47 p.m. Sunday about the incident, which took place on railroad tracks north of the intersection of Venice Road and Niagara Street on Sandusky's west side.A witness told police he was sitting in the back porch of his house when he saw Likens walking between the tracks. Likens did not respond when a westbound train began blowing its horn and when an engineer stuck his head out the window and yelled at her, the witness said. Likens then was hit by the train, the witness said.The people operating the train were interviewed by police. They told police Likens apparently was struck by a grab iron, a metal hand rail next to the stairs on the side of the engine. Lt. Rich Braun of the Sandusky Police Department stands near railroad tracks near where a woman was struck by a train Sunday afternoon.