Lubbock, Texas Motorist in Serious Condition after Being Hit by Train at Dangerous, Unguarded Watco Crossing
(Lubbock, Texas – August 19, 2018)
A 20-year-old man from Abernathy, TX was admitted to University Medical Center in Lubbock, TX Sunday morning with what were described as “incapacitating injuries.” His Nissan SUV was struck by a train of the Lubbock & Western Railway at the dangerous and unguarded crossing of FM 1585 about 5:00 AM, CDT.
Mark Anthony Pando was listed in serious condition after being struck by one of two daily L&W trains that cross FM 1585 at a maximum allowable speed of 10 mph in what was the third accident and first injury to occur at the former Santa Fe Railway crossing.
The crossing has neither flashing lights nor crossing gates which would have been far more effective in warning motorists of approaching trains than the existing passive railroad crossbuck signs could ever hope to.
The L&MRY is one of 38 short line and regional railroads operated by the privately-owned WATCO group headquartered in Pittsburg, KS.