Driver Severely Injured At Dangerous, Unguarded Wisconsin Crossing
(Westford, Wisconsin – August 1, 2011)
A tree-enshrouded Wisconsin & Southern Railroad crossing protected only by railroad crossbuck signs nearly cost a 24-year-old Wisconsin motorist his life shortly after 6:00 P.M. early Monday evening in the community of Westford, WI.
Kyle Hamilton of Monona, WI was driving his SUV on Dodge County Highway “C” when he was struck by a 36-car Wisconsin & Southern RR freight train being pulled by three locomotives, and was shoved 946 feet beyond the point of impact by the train, which had 31 cars loaded with various hazardous materials in its consist.
Hamilton had to be extricated from his vehicle by Fox Lake Fire and EMS personnel and was flown by MedFlight helicopter to the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, WI for treatment of his undisclosed injuries. Officials told inquiring news media that “the rail crossing on Highway C is ‘controlled’ by yield signs.”
