HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – An elderly man, who drove his car into the path of an oncoming Amtrak train Saturday, escaped serious injury.

It took firefighters about 20 minute to free the 80-year-old driver, who was conscious and talking to rescuers the entire time, police said. He was taken to Hartford Hospital for evaluation. Authorities say he suffered a broken rib and cut to the head.

His name was not released.

The accident occurred just after 2 p.m. on tracks that cross Hamilton Street. The driver of the car was the only occupant. Witnesses told police the gates were down and lights flashing when the car entered the tracks.

“He crashed into and broke the first wooden barrier and got hit by the train,” Police Sgt. Dan Albert said.

The train was the northbound Vermonter bound from Washington to St. Albans, Vt.

Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said no one on the train was injured and that the train sustained minor damage. It carried about 110 passengers plus crew and was delayed an hour and 15 minutes, Magliari said.

AP-ES-12-17-05 2205EST