Oklahoma Driver and Passenger Injured at Dangerous, Confusing BNSF Crossing
(Ada, Oklahoma – June 15, 2020)
Locals call it “Crazy Corner” for a reason: its configuration and countless traffic signals can easily confuse motorists and result in tragedy. That’s the railroad highway crossing of Mississippi and Arlington Avenues and BNSF Railway in the community of Ada, OK. This crossing, unfortunately, appears to be the site of another collision, which occurred Sunday afternoon about 11:20 AM, CDT. The collision resulted in injury to the driver and passenger of the vehicle. According to Ada authorities, the passenger was airlifted to an area hospital for serious injuries.
Sunday’s collision marked the 16th collision between a BNSF train and a motor vehicle at the crossing. According to railroad submitted records, a half-dozen Burlington Northern Santa Fe trains cross there at a maximum allowable speed of 40 mph.
Even government officials and commercial businesses refer to the intersection whimsically as “Crazy Corner.” The fact that the two streets also carry state highway designations doesn’t help. Neither do the flashing light signals which operate at both streets, and the lack of crossing gates at either street, add significantly to the dilemma. In a 2018 feature by KTEN-TV in Dennison, TX, Ada Public Works Director Carl Allen said “Technically, it’s just a four-way stop; It’s just at a funny angle.”
