(Vincennes, Indiana – June 6, 2017)
Two Illinois residents received various injuries after a CSX freight train collided at dangerous and non-gated CSX Crossing railroad tracks and Minneapolis Street in Vincennes, IN last Tuesday afternoon.
Driver Mackenzie Thompson, 19, of Lawrenceville, IL and passenger Courtney McDonald, 23, of Robinson, IL became the third and fourth injuries suffered at the ungated CSX rail crossing. There are as many as 28 trains that cross Minneapolis Street at a maximum speed of 25 mph daily.
The collision in which their injuries were incurred represented the 13th collision trains and motor vehicles have collided at the road/rail intersection. Despite these prior twelve collisions, CSX has neglected to install automatic gates. Studies have proven that the addition of automatic gates to flashing light only crossings reduce accidents by up to two-thirds.
Both victims were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes for treatment of their injuries.