Pennsylvania Truck Driver Seriously Injured after Freight Train Collision at Dangerous, Unguarded Crossing
(Bellefonte, Pennsylvania –May 2, 2024)
A Bellefonte dump truck driver was seriously injured in a collision with a freight train at a dangerous and unguarded crossing earlier this month. The collision occurred in Centre County, Pennsylvania. According to police, the 44-year-old driver of the dump truck was hit on the passenger side by a northbound Nittany and Bald Eagle train about 9:43 a.m. Thursday May 2, 2024. The collision occurred near 7021 S. Eagle Valley Road in Worth Township.
Photographs of the crossing reveal that heavy vegetation on both sides of the track at the crossing. This vegetation can obscure the view of an oncoming train. To compound the problem with sight-obstructing vegetation, there are no active warning devices, lights and gates, at this crossing. The railroad industry knows that the installation of lights and gates at these unprotected crossings saves lives and prevents injuries to unsuspecting motorists. It is virtually certain that the addition of lights and gates could have prevented this tragedy. 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 collisions by as much as 96%.
First responders are still investigating this collision.
