Couple hurt in car/train collision

An elderly Surprise couple was seriously injured when their car was struck by a train Friday morning in Surprise, police said.

The accident occurred just before 10 a.m. at the train crossing at Dysart Road and Grand Avenue. Emergency personnel from Surprise, El Mirage, Sun City West and Peoria responded to the scene.

Joseph Kissner, 84 and Iris Kissner, 70, were flown by air ambulance to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Phoenix in serious condition.

Iris has been released from the hospital. But as of Tuesday, Joseph remains hospitalized in stable condition, said police spokesman, Sgt. Mark Ortega.

Ortega said witnesses noticed the green, late-model Cadillac driven by the couple, was in the right lane, heading southbound on Dysart Road.

The car had moved past the first white line at the train crossing.

"When the crossing arm came down, it touched the back of the car and pushed them forward," Ortega said.

Ortega said the train hit on the driver's side of the vehicle, and which spun the car. The car was then clipped in the front by the train.

Ortega said drivers need to be cautious and aware of where the designated white lines are on the road before a train crossing and not to cross those lines.

"I've seen this type of accident about six times, mostly happening in Sun City" he said. "And it comes from not understanding where they are supposed to stop."

Joy Slagowski may be reached at 623-876-2514, or jslagowski@yourwestvalley.com.