A Seymour teen-ager died Wednesday night three hours after his car was hit and dragged 85 feet by an oncoming freight train at the B&O crossing at County Road 125E.

Andrew A. Elsner, 16, of 336 South Broadway, was southbound when the westbound train hit the car, dragging it and throwing it into a ditch.

Elsner died of massive internal injuries at 10:55 p.m. at Jackson County Schneck Memorial Hospital.   He also had a broken pelvis and his left femur was broken in three places.

Engineer Michael Lowe, 37, Erlanger, Kentucky, told police he saw Elsner’s 1979 sedan approaching the crossing and blew the whistle continuously, but the car did not slow down.

The train was moving at 52 miles per hour when it hit the car at the unlit crossing east of Seymour, according to a Indiana State Police report.

The only markings at the crossing were white railroad crossing signs, and it has no flashing lights.   The crossing has a clear view in both directions, but clouds covered the full moon at the time of the accident.

The car apparently did not try to stop, according to the report, because no skid marks were found near the crossing.

Seymour firemen, along with state police officers and paramedics from Ross Ambulance, used the Jaws of Life to help free Elsner from the twisted wreckage.

Elsner died approximately three hours after he was freed.

Investigation officer Trooper Robert Gann said in the report use of seat belts would not have saved Elsner.

Mr. Elsner was a junior at Seymour High School, and had been a member of the Swing Choir.   He was a member of the St. Ambrose Catholic Church congregation.

He was born June 3, 1967, and is survived by his parents, Francis J. and Gloria M. Armstrong Elsner.

Also surviving are two brothers, Charles J. Elsner, Seymour, and Joseph Elsner, Tampa, Florida; seven sisters, Mrs. R. Kent (Cecilia) Pyle, Freetown; Mrs. Douglas (Cindy) Compton, Seymour; Brenda Elsner, Seymour; Eileen M. Elsner, Houston, Texas; Mary Agnes Elsner, Evansville; Regina S. Elsner, Bloomington; and Bernadette M. Elsner, at home; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Elsie Arnone, Hyattsville, Maryland; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Elsner, Seymour; and four nephews.

Father Joseph Sheets will conduct funeral services at St. Ambrose Catholic Church at 10 a.m. Saturday, with burial in Riverview Cemetery.

Friends may call at Voss Mortuary after 2 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Saturday.   A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Friday at Voss Chapel.

©The Daily Tribune, Seymour, Indiana (September 22, 1983)