Car left on train tracks struck, flies into home

PORT SAINT LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — A car left on train tracks was struck and catapulted into a nearby home in Port St. Lucie.

According to the Martin County Sheriff's Office, 38-year-old Bradford Weitzel left a Martin County bar early Saturday morning to find that his car was missing.

Weitzel told investigators that he stole another vehicle in an attempt to find his own, and that it suddenly stopped dead while on train tracks along Indian River Drive.

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Detectives say Weitzel bailed from the car and ran as an oncoming train struck the vehicle and sent it flying into a nearby home.

The homeowners were asleep inside, but thankfully no one was hurt during the incident.

Deputies say Weitzel continued to flee to a nearby fruit stand, where he vandalized the stand and attempted to steal a forklift.

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Eventually, Weitzel flagged down the responding deputies to ask for help finding his missing car. Deputies arrested him after he explained the events of the evening.

Weitzel is being charged with grand theft and criminal mischief, and other charges are expected.