(December 4, 2025 – Carrollton Township, Michigan)
A 63-year-old Michigan woman tragically passed away on Thursday night due to injuries stemming from a motorist-train collision that had occurred just hours before. The horrific crash took place at approximately 9:43 p.m. on December 4 on Carrollton Road, north of Stoker Drive.
While her name has not yet been disclosed, the sole victim has been identified as a resident of Carrollton Township, MI. According to responders, the woman was traveling north-northeast on Carrollton Rd. in her white 2019 Jeep Renegade when she collided with a Lake State Railway Company’s (LSRC) train. She remained pinioned by her car until the Carrollton Township police and firefighters arrived on the scene and extracted her. Though she was quickly taken to a nearby hospital, she soon died from her injuries.
Per LSRC’s submitted records, the railroad crossing where the accident occurred is not equipped with any active warning devices, such as lights and gates. In addition, the crossing has insufficient lighting, which can complicate motorists’ ability to observe oncoming trains, particularly in the later hours of the day. Moreover, the railroad tracks intersect with Carrollton Rd. at an angle, further hindering drivers’ decision-making ability by limiting vision.
It is virtually certain that the installation of lights and gates at this crossing would have prevented this tragic loss of life. Industry studies that were conducted over fifty years ago confirm that lights and gates can drastically reduce the number of vehicle/train collisions by as much as 96%.
The investigation continues as police attempt to identify the factors contributing to the tragic crash.