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UPDATE: Two Killed In Truck Vs. Train Crash

UPDATE — Lycoming County Coroner Charles Kiessling released the names of the two men dead after the pickup truck collided with a freight train on Friday. ...

UPDATE -- Lycoming County Coroner Charles Kiessling released the names of the two men dead after the pickup truck collided with a freight train on Friday.

According to Kiessling, passenger Darren Ziemer, 46 of Nebraska, was pronounced dead at the scene and driver Howard Martin, 49, was flown to Geisinger Medical Center where he was pronounced dead just before 2:00pm.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP -- Two men are dead tonight after the pickup truck they were in collided with a freight train on Friday in Lycoming County . Officials on the scene near Montgomery said both were construction workers at the new gas power plant being built in Lycoming County.

Griffith Company, a construction company based out of California, has confirmed that both men who died in the crash were working at the construction site where the new power plant is being built. Griffith Company said the two men were coming back to work after their lunch break when the truck was hit.

A United Rental pickup truck is dented and upside down. It sits feet from the railroad crossing where it was hit by a train here on Brick Church Road in Clinton Township near Montgomery.

Troopers said the truck was headed over the railroad crossing when it collided with a Norfolk Southern Train. The coroner said two men in the truck were killed. He has not yet released their names, but said they are from out of state.

"I feel sorry that somebody lost their life,” said Bill Pewterbaugh from Clinton Township.

Pewterbaugh lives right by the railroad crossing, he was inside his home when the crash happened.

"Basic train noise and a thud,” said Pewterbaugh.

Officials said the passenger died at the scene.

A Life Flight helicopter was called in. Officials said the driver of the truck was taken to Muncy Hospital and later flown to Geisinger Medical Center near Danville where he died.

Griffith Company representatives were also at the crash scene. They told Newswatch 16 both victims were working at the nearby construction site where a power plant is being built. The company says the men were coming back from lunch when the crash happened.

Pewterbaugh says the trains passing through here are loud. He's surprised the driver didn't stop.

"They lay on their horns a lot and they are extremely loud so you really can't miss that. Unfortunately, it costs some lives, so,” said Pewterbaugh.

State Police are still investigating what may have caused the crash in Clinton Township near Montgomery.

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