Train Hits Car Stuck On Railroad Tracks

A vehicle became stuck on the tracks near CM Allen and East Hopkins after its owner drove it along the tracks. No one was injured.

A train struck a car on the railroad tracks early Saturday morning after a man drove the car down the tracks between CM Allen and East Hopkins and became stuck. The driver escaped, but the collision blocked railroad crossings in San Marcos for hours.

At approximately 5:50 a.m., San Marcos police officers responded to the area of East Hopkins near the San Marcos Activity Center to investigate a reported train vs. auto collision.

Ian Phillip Vaneau (DOB: 10/15/92) told officers that he drove his vehicle down the tracks from CM Allen Parkway toward East Hopkins, but was unable to continue when his vehicle became stuck on the tracks. Vaneau abandoned his vehicle on the tracks, where it was struck by a Union Pacific train and pushed to the East Hopkins railroad crossing where the train came to a stop.

The crossing was blocked until about 8:30 a.m. when crews finished clearing the debris and moving the train. While it was stopped, the train blocked East Hopkins, CM Allen Parkway, Guadalupe Street, and LBJ Drive.

Union Pacific officials were on scene investigating the collision. Vaneau was arrested and charged with Criminal Trespass.