OLD ORCHARD BEACH — A driver who lost control of his vehicle Wednesday night jumped out before it collided into a southbound Amtrak Downeaster passenger train.

Public safety personel received a call from Amtrak around 6:30 p.m. regarding a vehicle that had been struck by a train just south of Union Avenue in Old Orchard Beach, according to Sgt. Gerard Hamilton.

Carson Filiault, 23, was backing his 2005 Nissan Titan out of a driveway on First Street, when the car began to malfunction, according to Hamilton.

The engine began to rev and Filiault was unable to stop the truck, which crossed over First Street, went down an embankment and onto the railroad tracks.

Hamilton said Filiault jumped out of the truck and was able to escape the vehicle before it crossed over the tracks and was struck by a southbound passenger train. There were no passengers in the truck.

Hamilton said Filiault was taken to Southern Maine Health Care with minor injuries.

There were nine passengers on the Downeaster train, and no one on the train was injured, Hamilton said.

Amtrak officials posted to the Amtrak Downeaster website that the southbound trains to Boston were expected to be delayed three hours that evening because of the accident, and the northbound train departing Boston was expected to be delayed 30 to 60 minutes.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.

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