(Seymour, Missouri – October 17, 2025)
A Missouri motorist was tragically killed around 11:00 am when her vehicle was struck by a BNSF freight train last Friday, October 17, 2025. The collision occurred near the roadway intersection of Box School Loop and U.S. 60 and BNSF railroad tracks. The driver has not been identified, but it was reported to be a 58 year old female from Seymour.
Local residents have long been concerned about the dangerousness of this crossing and that something tragic could occur there. “Of course it’s dangerous. There have been many accidents here. I hardly ever use this crossing. My husband does some more than I do, and when our kids were starting to drive, it was a no-no, you always go to the other one where you can see better,” Marilyn Mingus said.
The unprotected BNSF crossing has two mainline tracks and accommodates a daily average of 20 trains at typical speeds of 50 miles per hour. The crossing has also been the site of four prior train/vehicle collisions that have resulted in numerous injuries and at least one prior fatality.
Despite the relatively high train count, train speed, and prior collisions, the crossing was not equipped with any active warning devices, such as lights and gates. It is virtually certain that the installation of lights and gates at this crossing would have prevented this tragic loss of life. Studies that were conducted over fifty years ago confirm that lights and gates offer the ability to drastically reduce the number of vehicle/train collisions by as much as 96%.