(November 28, 2022 – Haralson County, Georgia)
Early Monday morning, the Georgia State Patrol confirmed that an Amtrak train versus vehicle crash on J. Davis Road killed one person. The FedEx driver was identified as 22-year-old Tyree Patton. He was traveling south when he was struck by the Amtrak freight train. The train struck the driver’s side of the truck. Patton was pronounced dead at the scene where local police notified his family.
The Norfolk Southern Crossing where this collision occurred sees Amtrak trains traveling over it at typical speeds of 79 mph. Despite the high-speed trains, the crossing did not have 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. Norfolk Southern, Amtrak, and Operation Lifesaver know that lights and gates are the most effective type of protection at railroad crossings. 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%.
FedEx gave a statement regarding the accident, “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the individual involved in the accident. Safety is our highest priority and we are cooperating fully with the investigating authorities at the time.”
The train was headed to New Orleans from New York. There were no reported injuries to the 55 train passengers or crew members.
The crash remains under investigation.