Delaware man hit by train

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

An architect employed with a Kansas City firm contracted to work for Amtrak was struck and killed by an Amtrak train in Providence last week. The man who died is said to have been working alongside three other men, one of whom was seriously injured. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the railroad accident. This report estimates that a full Federal investigation will take up to one year to complete. So far reports indicate that the curvature of the railroad track may have contributed to this train accident.

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Crossing accident injures two

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

A busy highway in Missouri has seen a number of accidents at one of its railroad crossings over the years. Two women were recently injured in a 3 vehicle accident near Columbia. This and various other railroad crossing accidents have happened here due to the 70 mph speed limit and the fact that certain vehicles like school buses and fuel trucks, by law, have to stop at the crossing. Although accidents of this nature have been happening at this crossing for over a decade, MDoT is only now considering adding a flashing light to warn motorists of halted traffic.

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Two survive horrific car/train wreck

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

A town is amazed after seeing the remains of an almost unrecognizeable Land Rover that was hit by a train going over 50 mph. Fortunately their amazement is not at the destruction but at the fact that the two occupants lived through the railroad crossing accident. This train accident happened at a crossing with no gates, as we so often see. It is, however, rare that the occupants of such a railroad accident survive. Unfortunately, we cannot depend on luck for survival; lights and gates save lives - plain and simple.

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Woman hit while walking dog

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

A New Jersey woman was struck and killed by a train at Sixth and Railroad street in Emmaus. The train was able to stop six blocks after impact and was not put into emergency mode. This railroad crossing previously had no lights or gates. Reports indicate that flashing lights and gates had recently been installed. The crossing accident is said to have occurred at 10:39 p.m. The odd timing may warrant further investigation. No known reports have been made regarding the accessibility of this railroad crossing for pedestrians.

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It took a fatality

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

WEST FRANKFORT, IL: For years level-headed citizens of this Illinois town had lobbied to get lights and gates installed at this dangerous railroad crossing. It was not until a popular community member lost his life last month that any action was taken, however. This train accident and others at this railroad crossing could have been prevented had the railroad company taken its proper responsibility to protect the motorists in the city through which it frequently travels.

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Railroad company looks to cameras

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

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.

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Woman hit by coal train

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

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.

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Louisiana teen killed at crossing

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

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.

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California family sues railroad

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

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.

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