Driver, Child Escaped Fiery Train Crash

COON RAPIDS (AP) -- Authorities say an adult and a child escaped from their car just before it was hit by a freight train and caught fire in Coon Rapids.

Fire officials say the car got stuck on railroad tracks late Saturday. The driver saw the approaching train and made it out of the vehicle with the child.

Firefighters kept the train from catching fire. BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth says the train included a number of liquefied petroleum gas tank cars, but they were empty.

The tracks were shut down for about 90 minutes until about 11 p.m. Northstar rail service between Fridley and Big Lake was halted and passengers were picked up by bus in Fridley.