(January 3, 2026 – Toledo, Ohio)
An Ohio resident was pronounced dead in the early hours of Saturday morning after being involved in a catastrophic collision with a Norfolk Southern train. The crash took place shortly before 3 a.m. on January 3 at the North Detroit Avenue crossing in Toledo, OH.
The victim was later identified as 36-year-old Alandre Moore of Toledo. According to the Toledo Police Department, Moore was traveling south on N. Detroit Ave. as the train was backing down the tracks heading eastbound. His car was struck as it traversed the intersection despite apparent efforts to avoid the collision and was pushed 50 feet down the tracks before the train was able to come to a complete halt. Subsequently, Moore’s vehicle caught fire while he remained trapped inside, and, though Toledo Fire crews managed to put the flames out, he was declared dead at the scene. It was also reported that a 19-year-old train crew member was aboard the back of the train at the time of the crash and was struck but opted not to receive treatment.
According to Norfolk Southern’s submitted records, the crossing is uncontrolled and completely lacks lights, gates, and audible warning devices despite obstructed sight lines due to nearby vegetation, buildings, and other miscellaneous items. Prior to the subject collision, the N. Detroit Ave. crossing saw 13 accidents occur over a span of 20 years, with 12 of them happening in the last 10 years. Railroad rules also required the Norfolk Southern train to yield the right of way to vehicular traffic and not to proceed into the crossing until it is confirmed all vehicles are stopped or no vehicles are approaching the crossing. It appears that this was not done in this collision by Norfolk Southern employees.
In the days following the crash, two members of the Toledo City Council—George Santou and Theresa Morris—spoke about the dangers presented by the crossing. Morris made a Facebook post in which she requested a warning system at the crossing. Santou also stated, “It’s a very tragic situation, and unfortunately there have been many accidents at that railroad crossing. There is [sic] no warning lights and no gates that come down when a train is coming through.”
The collision remains under investigation.