This truck, driven by Jon Legvold of Jonesboro, was struck by a train in Marked Tree around 1 p.m. Monday, July 28. No one was injured. (Tribune photo / Samantha Martin)

One lucky man escaped from what could have been a fatal situation Monday afternoon when his tractor truck was hit by a train in Marked Tree.

Jon Legvold, 56, was attempting to cross the railroad tracks on Elm Street when his truck, hitched to a flatbed trailer, became lodged on the tracks.

"I've been over those tracks a lot of times before and never had any problem," Legvold said. "But for some reason I got stuck this time."

The Jonesboro man said he tried to reverse and go forward several times as the railroad lights began to flash and the guard bars lowered.

"When I looked up and saw the train was only 50 or 60 feet away I knew I didn't have any other choice but to get out," Legvold said.

Legvold said he hoped the conductor would be able to stop the train in time, but the vehicle was thrown from the tracks and landed sideways several yards from the crossing.

No injuries were reported in the crash.

"He doesn't know how lucky he is to be alive," said Jeremy Bond of the Marked Tree Police Department.

Legvold said he usually trusts his GPS system to guide him, but no doubt he will probably think twice about railroad track crossings in the future.

See the print edition for more photos and information about the wreck.