Florida Motorist Killed by Freight Train at Dangerous, Unguarded CSX Crossing
(Lakeland, Florida – August 27, 2024)
A 36-year-old resident of Kissimmee, Florida, was killed in Lakeland, Polk County, after his 2006 Ford F–150 pickup was struck by a CSX Transportation freight train. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Ford driver was identified as Abel Arocho. Mr. Arocho was traveling south on Kathleen Road when he turned right onto a private road and was struck by the northbound CSX cargo train.
The crash occurred at the private railroad crossing just west of Kathleen Road, situated right in front of Kathleen Tire Shop. The CSX freight train was traveling north from Orlando to Jacksonville, carrying 110 empty cars and estimated to have been moving at around 55 mph at the time of the collision. The train struck the driver’s side of the pickup, ejecting Mr. Arocho from the pickup and knocking the vehicle off the tracks just northwest of the crossing. Despite the first responders’ best efforts, Mr. Arocho was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene.
The crossing where this tragedy took place has also been the site of three prior collisions in the past decade, with collisions in 2020, 2015, and 2013.
Despite the high number of frequent collisions at this crossing, it remains unguarded by any active warning devices, such as lights and gates. It is virtually certain that the addition of lights and gates could have prevented this tragedy and the three collisions prior. CSX Transportation and Operation Lifesaver know that the installation of lights and gates at these unprotected crossings saves lives. Studies that have been conducted over fifty years ago confirm that lights and gates offer the ability to drastically reduce the number of vehicle/train collisions by as much as 96%.
To compound the problem with no active warning devices, CSX identified this crossing as private. As such, it is unclear at this time whether the CSX freight train timely sounded its horn as it approached this crossing.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Department is still investigating this collision.
