Schmenk said Joint Emergency Medical Services paramedics administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation but were not successful. Cole was pronounced dead at 5:25 p.m. by the Warren County Coroner’s Office.
Schmenk and the coroner’s office believe Cole experienced a medical emergency while driving, which led to the crash.
The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office autopsied Cole’s body Thursday morning. The cause of death was due to blunt force trauma from the crash with contributing factors of several cardiac conditions, said Mike DeBorde, chief investigator for the Warren County Coroner’s Office. DeBorde said the autopsy could not determine which came first, the crash or the cardiac conditions.
Carlisle police Chief Will Rogers said a crew from Norfolk Southern already was working to repair the crossing gate early Thursday. Rogers also said Cole was a proud U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Prior to Wednesday’s fatal crash, the rail crossing between Walnut and Beachler streets had five previous crashes in the past five years, Schmenk said. One crash had a possible injury and all of the crashes had property damage reported. Wednesday’s crash was the first fatal accident at that location, he said.
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