Oregon Pickup Driver Critically Injured at Unguarded BNSF Crossing
(Redmond, Oregon – December 18, 2019)
A 74-year-old resident of Crooked River Ranch, OR was airlifted to St. Charles – Bend Hospital after his pickup truck was struck by a BNSF train Wednesday morning at about 8:20 am, PST. The freight train consisted of five freight cars and a locomotive. The collision occurred at the dangerous and unguarded crossing of Gun Club Road and BNSF tracks just south of Redmond, OR.
The victim, David J. Gilbert, was still conscious when first responders arrived and were told by him that he never heard a horn nor saw the train coming.
BNSF officials told news media that the train was traveling at about 40 mph at the time of the collision. According to railroad submitted records, a half dozen trains traverse over the Gun Club Road crossing daily.
The crossing, listed as private in nature, was not equipped with any active warning devices, such as lights and gates. It is also unclear if the train horn was ever blown prior to this collision. Federal regulations do not require locomotive engineers to sound their engine’s horns as they approach private crossings. However, state laws and internal railroad rules may mandate the train horns use at all crossings, include private crossings.
