(Seymour, Missouri – December 5, 2011)
A father and his son, operating a 1990 International dump truck on Oak Lawn Road just south of U.S. Highway 60 in Seymour, MO, both lost their lives in a collision with a Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train at the dangerous, unguarded crossing of Oak Lawn Road and BNSF railroad tracks about 8:10 A.M. Monday morning.
Son Chad Lee, 34, of Ava, MO was driving and his father, Gary Lee, 57, of Seymour was in the passenger seat when the train virtually crushed the truck’s cab, killing both victims instantly.
A Missouri State Highway Patrol officer told the Springfield News-Leader that “the railroad crossing is signaled by crossbucks,” even though railroad crossbucks are passive signs and, as the News-Leader noted, “Neither control arms nor lights are used at the crossing to warn drivers of oncoming trains.”
Allegedly, MoDot’s “Crash Team” will investigate the tragic double fatality accident.
