The driver of a car and his male passenger were seriously injured yesterday when it was struck by a MARC train at a crossing in Baltimore's Westport area.

A spokesman for the Maryland Department of Transportation said warning lights were flashing and the crossing gate lowered when the driver steered around it - and into the path of the Washington-bound train, traveling south at 50 mph from Baltimore's Camden Station with 31 passengers.

Names of the injured were not available. The men from the car were taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, and a female passenger from the train complaining of a back injury was taken to Harbor Hospital, officials said.

Jack Cahalan, the spokesman, said the car was traveling east in the 2300 block of Hollins Ferry Road at 6 p.m. when the crash occurred.