Motorist Collides With Standing Train at Non-Gated Ns Crossing
(Columbus, Georgia – October 25, 2011)
An as-yet unidentified motorist was seriously injured Tuesday night about 11:00 P.M. when his vehicle collided with the side of a standing Norfolk Southern train carrying carloads of sand and gravel at the crossing of NS railroad tracks and Schatulga Road in Columbus, GA.
Although the crossing has flashing lights, it has no gates to prevent motorists from proceeding across the crossing – which, in this case, was blocked by dark, unreflective freight cars. Emergency responders had to cut the victim out of his heavily-damaged auto and the victim was transported to The Medical Center in Columbus where he was admitted to the intensive care unit.
“Evidently, the (driver of the) car did not see the train stationary on the track and ran into it,” explained CFD Deputy Fire Chief Greg Lang.
