WINONA, Minn. – A driver busted through a railroad crossing arm on Sioux Street and broke it off, according to witnesses who called police. Police found the car nearby, its hood still warm and with damage from the broken-off crossing arm. This was about 10:10 p.m. Arrested at the address where the car was parked: Ashley Claire Schietke, 37. A breath test showed her blood-alcohol at 0.18% — more than twice the legal threshold for impairment. Police said Schietke admitted to “a couple beers.”
Complex crossing
The single-track Canadian Pacific mainline crosses three intersecting streets — Sioux, Gilmore and Mark. It was unclear whether Schietke was trying to beat a train or was just impatient after a train had passed. About one train an hour passes through town at 40 mph. These are mostly freights, some more than a mile long, and at night the St. Paul-bound Empire Builder passenger train.
Schietke. Charged with driving drunk, crossing tracks illegally, and leaving the scene.