BNSF, Flagstaff PD Welcome New Resident with Crossing Collision, Citation
(Flagstaff, Arizona – October 22, 2011)
A man moving his belongings and auto from Florida to Flagstaff, AZ Sunday afternoon about 3:30 P.M. received the ultimate “welcome wagon” gift package: a crossing collision, courtesy of Burlington Northern Santa Fe and a traffic citation, compliments of the Flagstaff Police Dept.
The unidentified new resident was driving a rental truck and hauling a trailer with his personal vehicle loaded thereupon when he became stuck on a BNSF crossing in traffic on Ponderosa Parkway, backed up from the traffic light at East Route 66.
Upon the appearance of a BNSF freight train, the man noticed that his trailer had not cleared the crossing. Unable to move forward as traffic dutifully obeyed the red light, he attempted to back off the crossing, only to find traffic pinning him in his precarious position.
The train clipped the trailer, damaged the car on board, and scattered some sports recreational equipment also being carried on the trailer. The victim was charged with “failure to stop at a railroad crossing” even though no train was evident when he arrived at the crossing.