A Villa Rica woman whose car became lodged on the railroad tracks and was struck by a train has been arrested.

Police said Tuesday that Jamie Matthews, 32, was under the influence of alcohol and prescription medication early Saturday morning when she drove her car onto the tracks at a crossing on Jones Street in Villa Rica.

“Without a doubt, this crash was directly related to the driver being impaired,” said Villa Rica Police Chief Michael Mansour.

Jones, who managed to get out of the car, was not injured in the collision and the train conductor was able to avoid derailment.

Matthews, 32, was arrested and charged with DUI and failure to apply a reasonable and prudent standard for crossing a railroad. Police said she drove up onto a train track at the railway crossing on Jones Street and was unable to move the car off of the track before an approaching Norfolk Southern train headed eastbound crushed the car.

Mansour said Matthews was impaired under the influence of prescription medication and alcohol when she tried to cross the railroad tracks and veer left onto the street but instead traveled along the railroad tracks.

Matthews was able to get out of the 2006 Ford Focus she was driving and left shortly for help, but was unable to move the car before the train struck the car in the rear. The train did not sustain damage, according to police.

Mansour said police have increased patrols in the city on the lookout for intoxicated drivers as one measure to curb drivers who choose to operate their vehicles after drinking alcohol or ingesting drugs. Police have arrested 17 drivers since the holiday season began in November on DUI charges.

“This time of year, with many people going to holiday parties, DUI arrests typically increase by about 25 percent and that is something the entire department takes very seriously,” he said. “We do not and will not give breaks for DUI, because of the impact it has on our community. The officers know firsthand about the impact the crashes have when they are called to work these crashes. Most everyone has been affected indirectly or directly by this crime.”