Motorist Critically Injured when Hit by CSX Train at Dangerous, Unguarded Crossing
(Biloxi, Mississippi – January 30, 2013)
A 22-year-old Biloxi, MS man was seriously injured Wednesday night at about 8:30 P.M. when the car he was driving was struck by a CSX freight train at the dangerous, unguarded crossing of Nixon Street and CSX tracks in Biloxi, MS.
Felipe Calihua, the vehicle’s lone occupant, was taken to the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile, AL where he was still in critical condition Friday.
The CSX/Nixon Street crossing has only standard, passive railroad crossbuck and highway stop signs as protection for the public from contact with what the Federal Railroad Administration states are a daily average of 15 freight trains at top allowable speeds of 45 mph, lacking any active protective devices such as flashing lights, bells and crossing gates, items which railroad sources claim could prevent around 90% of all railroad grade crossing accidents.
Wednesday’s accident was the fifth collision at the crossing, where two deaths have been suffered in the previous four accidents.
