Indiana Motorist Seriously Injured at Dangerous, Unguarded Norfolk Southern Crossing
(Elwood, Indiana February 9, 2017)
A 34-year-old motorist was seriously injured when her 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt collided with an 85-car Norfolk Southern freight train at the dangerous and unguarded crossing. The collision occurred on a snow and ice-packed South 31st Street in Elwood, IN late Thursday morning at about 11:50 A.M.
Haley N. Collins was first taken to St. Vincent Mercy Hospital in Elwood before being airlifted to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment of back, neck and internal injuries suffered in the wreck.
Although the daily average of seven NS trains can traverse the NS/S 1st St, crossing at speeds of 49 mph, the train was allegedly travelling at 27 mph, and its locomotive engineer and conductor said Collins vehicle was only going 5 mph when the victim attempted to stop, but slid into the path of the train.
The crossing is equipped with only with passive, silent railroad cross-buck and highway stop signs, lacking any crossing gates or lights which might have prevented the collision.
