(Deshler, Ohio – February 17, 2013)
The fire chief of Deshler, OH apparently feels strongly that a fatal railroad crossing accident just north of Deshler Sunday afternoon might have prevented, or at least lessened in severity, had the dangerous, unguarded crossing been equipped with crossing gates.
It wasn’t, nor did the County Road E/CSX railroad crossing have flashing lights or bells, and as a result of the collision between a northeast bound CSX freight train and a westbound Pontiac, Rebecca McCoy-Basore, 48, of Hamilton, OH is dead.
The collision, which occurred about 2:00 P.M. at the crossing “protected” only by a pair of standard, passive railroad crossbuck signs, saw the victim’s car struck on the driver’s side and carried an estimated 1,100 feet down the track before the train came to a halt. The Henry County Coroner pronounced the victim, whom law enforcement personnel said was wearing her seat belt, dead at the scene.
Among the agencies responding to the tragedy was the Deshler Fire Dept., whose chief, Willis Croninger, observed that “If there was (sic) gates there, it would have at least deterred them (the victim) from going through the track (crossing).” The fire chief added that “I’m not sure exactly where she came across or if she saw the train or not before it happened.”
The Ohio State Patrol is leading the investigation into the tragedy.
According to the Federal Railroad Administration, a dozen trains operate over the crossing daily at top allowable speeds of 50 mph.