(Webber, Kansas – September 22, 2012)
A mother and her grown son, both residents of Nebraska, died as the result of a collision between their 2002 Suzuki and a 99-car Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway freight train at the dangerous, unguarded crossing of BNSF tracks and Farm Entrance Drive in Jewell County, KS, a mile north of Webber, KS Saturday morning at about 10:30 A.M.
The mother and driver, Tracy Core, 43, of Lincoln, NE was flown to Brodstone Memorial Hospital in Superior, NE, but died enroute and was pronounced dead on arrival. Her son and passenger, Bradley Cusatis, 22, of Beatrice, NE, was killed instantly as the train struck their vehicle on the passenger side.
The BNSF/Farm Entrance Drive crossing has no active protection such as crossing gates, flashing lights or bells, devices railroad sources claim would stop over 90% of train/highway vehicle accidents, but instead has only passive signage to “protect” the public from trains.
The Kansas Highway Patrol and Jewell County Sheriff’s Office were both on the scene investigating the tragedy.
