Personal Injury Law

Missouri man killed in railroad crossing accident

By Ryan Bradley, Esq.

John Norris, 79, was killed in a Missouri railroad crossing accident when he attempted to cross tracks in Saline County on Tuesday morning.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Norris was driving a 2006 Dodge and approached the marked crossing on English Street shortly after 11:00 a.m. The investigating officer said the lights and bells at the crossing were working at the time of the crash, but Norris failed to stop and his car was hit by the train.

Norris was pronounced dead at the scene. The train, which was a single engine GP40 locomotive from KC Southern, sustained only minor damage and was later driven from the scene.

While the initial accident report described the lights and bells as working, it is not known whether the train conductor sounded his horn as he approached the crossing.

Missouri is one of the ten most dangerous states for railroad crossing accidents, according to fatality rates. A recent report found that the state has more than 2,000 dangerous crossings that are unguarded with no lights or warning signals.

Even crossings with lights and crossing guards have been known to produce accidents. Malfunctions with the automatic warning systems and signage that is obscured by overgrown trees can leave even the most attentive motorist unaware of an approaching train. Once a car crosses into the path of a train, there is little a conductor can do to slow down as a fully loaded freight train can take up to a mile to come to a full stop once brakes are applied.

If you have questions about a railroad crossing accident claim, it is important to consult an experienced Missouri personal injury attorney who has a background with such accidents.

Full post as published by Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog on August 10, 2010 (boomark / email).