Fighting for Life-Saving Change

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January 2008

Railroad company looks to cameras

Posted Tue, 01/29/2008 - 14:52

The northern California train company, Caltrain, is preparing to fund half a million dollars worth of cameras on their trains. There were 111 railroad related deaths in California "in the first 10 months of 2007." Now railroad officials want to add cameras to their trains to help investigate train accidents. For half a million dollars, they could add dozens of lights and protective gates to dangerous railroad crossings across the state.

Woman hit by coal train

Posted Fri, 01/25/2008 - 01:00

A Missouri woman was killed in a train crossing accident near Jefferson City, Missouri. Reports claim her car tire was stuck between two railroad ties; she was killed trying to get her car out of the situation. Union Pacific officials have given limited statements on the train accident, and nothing has been said about the condition of the crossing. Statistically, it is unlikely the railroad crossing had lights or gates. It is also likely that Union Pacific did not keep the railroad crossing in good condition; there should never be a circumstance in which a driver is stuck on the tracks.

Louisiana teen killed at crossing

Posted Fri, 01/18/2008 - 01:00

A 17-year-old Bossier City resident was killed at a railroad crossing without crossing arms this Thursday. Lights and bells were reportedly working, but such equipment has malfunctioned in the past. The boy's Kia Optima was pushed 300 yards from the point of impact. Paramedics attempted to revive him, but the accident was too severe. Another railroad crossing accident occurred here last August, but fortunately the driver survived that crash.

California family sues railroad

Posted Fri, 01/11/2008 - 01:00

One family is suing Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway over a dangerous railroad crossing in Kern County, California, which claimed the life of their husband and father. They claim the railroad company knew that the crossing was dangerous but chose to do nothing about it. Commissioners for Kern County have improved the road leading up to the crossing, and the railroad company has since put crossing arms up to prevent further train accidents.