Woman killed in train crash near Lisbon

LISBON - A woman has died following a train accident Friday morning near Lisbon, authorities said.

According to Iowa State Patrol, Wilma J. Morningstar, 76, of Lisbon, was killed after driving her SUV southbound on Gillette Lane and crashing into the front of a Union Pacific train traveling westbound around 8:30 a.m. The SUV continued to roll into a ditch following the impact, authorities said. Morningstar was not wearing a seat belt, and was thrown from the SUV. She was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. No one else was injured.

According to officials, the rural intersection has no lights or cross arms that have a yield sign, and trains typically travel through that area at around 50 mph.

Highway 1 near Mount Vernon was blocked in both directions while officials investigated the accident, but reopened just after 2 p.m.

The Union Pacific train was traveling westbound from Chicago to Portland, Ore. The train has four locomotives, 89 rail cars and the majority of cars were carrying double stacked containers. There were no hazardous materials in the containers, but most likely things like auto parts, electronics, toys and clothes, Union Pacific spokesperson Tom Lange said.