New Mexico Motorist Killed at Dangerous, Unguarded BNSF Crossing
(San Antonio, New Mexico December 8, 2016)
New Mexico State Police were investigating the death of an area woman after her vehicle was struck by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train just outside of the unincorporated community of Luis Lopez, NM at the BNSF/Farm Market Road intersection at about 2:14 P.M., MST Thursday afternoon.
Nancy Weiss, age unknown, of San Antonio, NM, was killed when her car was struck by one of the eight daily trains BNSF operates over the dangerous and unguarded crossing at a maximum allowable speed of 49 mph crushed her vehicle.
News Writer John Larson of Socorro, NMs El Defensor/Chieftain pointed out that the crossing where the tragedy took place has no signals. It is virtually certain that if this crossing was equipped with signals, such as lights and gates, this collision would not have happened. Both BNSF and Operation Lifesaver know that lights and gates are the most effective type of protection at railroad crossings. Studies that have been conducted over fifty years ago confirm that lights and gates offer the ability to drastically reduce the number of vehicle/train accidents by as much as 96%.
