Daily Staff Writer

Officials are in search of the driver who drove away after his or her vehicle was struck by a train Saturday morning.

According to the Ames Police Department, a maroon Chrysler sedan drove around the crossing gate at the Duff Avenue railroad crossing before being struck by a Union Pacific train heading westbound. The vehicle then spun around on the road and drove away.

The incident occurred at 5:30 a.m. and is being investigated by the Ames Police Department and Union Pacific Railroad.