MENTONE, Ind. (WOWO): It was a close call in Mentone Monday morning after a semi was hit by a train on SR 19.

Officers with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department say 51-year-old David Booth of Florida attempted to cross the tracks in Mentone just before 7:00 a.m. Monday morning, when his rig became stuck.

Just then, a Norfolk-Southern train came barreling through and smashed into the cab. Booth jumped to safety just before impact. The cab however, was all but destroyed. The train hit with such force, the lead engine was also heavily damaged.

State Road 19 was closed for hours while crews cleaned up the mess.