Arlngton Hts. driver charged in train crash

A 74-year-old Arlington Heights woman was charged after striking an open box car on a freight train backing up across Northwest Highway at Kensington Road in Arlington Heights on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

June Laurenzano, 74, 200 block of West Miner Street, Arlington Heights, was charged with disobeying a railroad signal or flagman after she drove her 1993 Cadillac into the train about 10:15 a.m.. The crossing has lights, which police said were flashing, and flagmen were signaling to vehicles. Police report that Laurenzano stopped for a few seconds then tried to drive over the tracks that cross Northwest Highway.

She was checked out in an ambulance, but was not taken to the hospital. Her court date is Jan. 30 and the Secretary of State's office will retest her, police said.