UPDATE: According to a Corfu Police Department press release, who also responded to the incident, Brendan M. Kotarski was leaving the concert at Darien Lake in heavy traffic and decided to drive across the railroad tracks by driving his pick up truck down Depot street directly into an oncoming train behind the lumber yard with passengers in his vehicle.
The train sounded its warning signal seeing the vehicle hung up on the tracks and not at a crossing. The occupants of the vehicle fled the scene. The vehicle was badly damaged and Kotarski was arrested later by Deputy Erik Andre.
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The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a motor vehicle accident where a pick up truck was struck by a train on the railroad tracks between Depot street and Water street in the Village of Corfu at about 12:29 a.m. Sunday morning.
Upon arrival, deputies observed a CSX freight train stopped on the railroad tracks that appeared to be traveling west. A black 2015 GMS Sierra was also observed on the tracks with damage to the rear of the truck.
According to deputies, the GMC allegedly attempted to cross over the tracks and bottomed out coming to rest on the north railroad track . That is when a CSX freight train struck the rear of the truck, pushing it off the tracks.
The GMC pick up was not occupied as the occupants were reported to have fled the scene by witnesses. No injuries were reported.
After further investigation, Brendan M. Kotarski, 27, and Amber M. Fortunato, 25, both of Medina, were located and found to be the sole occupants of the 2015 GMC Sierra.
Kotarski was later identified as the operator and was administered standard field sobriety tests.
Kotarski was found to allegedly be intoxicated and was charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08% or more, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and reckless endangerment 2nd. He was released and will appear in the Village of Corfu Court on September 9, 2019 to answer the charges.
The incident is being investigated by Officer Kevin Koscielniak, Corfu Police and members of the CSX Police with assistance at the scene from Sgt. Andrew Hale, Deputy Erik Andre, Deputy Ken Quackenbush and Deputy Moore along with members of the Corfu Fire Department.