State police in Westmoreland County yesterday were investigating the robbery of a Sutersville bowling alley owner that occurred about an hour after her brother-in-law got hit by a train nearby while walking drunk down the middle of the railroad tracks.

Police indicated that the robber may have taken advantage of the commotion from the train accident to rob Nancy Casoni, owner of Casoni Lanes on Second Avenue.

Ms. Casoni said the robber burst into the bowling alley after two other people who had been with her at closing time left to watch a medical helicopter pick up her brother-in-law, George Casoni, 47.

Mr. Casoni was being treated at Allegheny General Hospital yesterday. His injuries were not life-threatening, Ms. Casoni said.

Ms. Casoni was unhurt in the subsequent robbery, although she said the suspect did shove her around inside the bowling alley before taking off with the cash in her money pouch.

The incident began shortly before 2 a.m. when Mr. Casoni was "walking down the center of the railroad tracks heading to a bar while intoxicated," state police said.

When a CSX train rolled through town, the engineer saw him on the tracks at the Fourth Street crossing. The engineer blew the whistle several times "but was unable to get his attention," police said. The train couldn't stop in time and hit Mr. Casoni.