Witness: 18-year-old racing alongside train in Painesville Township sideswiped, in serious condition

PAINESVILLE TOWNSHIP, Ohio - Witnesses say an 18-year-old racing his bicycle alongside a train got sideswiped Monday morning and is in serious condition.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said it happened shortly after 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of the N&S Railroad Crossing at U.S. 20 (Mentor Avenue).

When help arrived, the bicyclist was found on the north side of Mentor Avenue with "serious visible injuries."

Nyles Sealey, 18, of Painesville, was conscious and immediately taken to a local hospital before being Life-Flighted to MetroHealth Medical Center where a family source said he's in serious condition.

At the scene, witnesses told authorities the lights and cross-bars activated at the crossing and were working properly. They said Sealey was racing alongside the westbound train on his bicycle.

Police said evidence at the scene points to Sealy trying to cross the intersection in an effort to make it across Mentor Avenue before the train. The right front end of the engine sideswiped Sealey and his bicycle, throwing him from the bike and rolling several feet off the road.

The N&S train had three people on-board, a conductor, an engineer and a conductor in training. No one on the train was hurt. 

Authorities said there was no evidence indicating Sealey was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The case remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.