Missouri Motorist Injured at Dangerous, Unguarded BNSF Crossing
(Seymour, Missouri – February 12, 2019)
A local resident suffered serious injuries as well as loss of his pickup truck about 3:50 PM Tuesday when his truck was struck by a BNSF freight train. The collision occurred at the non-signalized, dangerous and unguarded crossing of BNSF tracks and Oak Lawn Road near Seymour, MO.
Rolland Fisher, 54, of Seymour, was rushed to an undesignated Springfield, hospital, where he was treated for his crash-related injuries.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol pointed out to news media representatives that “the crossing had a cross buck and a yield sign, but no crossing arms,” which, along with flashing lights would certainly have prevented the crash.
Even though a daily average of nearly 200 vehicles cross paths with 30 BNSF freight trains, which can move at a maximum speed of 50 mph, there are no active warning devices at this crossing. Had active warning devices been installed, this collision as well as four previous collisions that have occurred there likely would have been prevented. Two of the previous collisions, like the one Tuesday, resulted in non-fatal injuries to motorists. On December 5, 2011, two vehicular occupants were killed in a collision at this crossing as well.
Media photos of the crossing show the humped crossing to be heavily tree-lined.
The Webster County Sheriff’s Office assisted the MSHP in investigating the near-tragedy.
