Texas Motorist Killed by Amtrak Train at multi-track BNSF Crossing
(Justin, Texas – December 7, 2023)
A 35-year-old Fort Worth motorist was killed last Thursday evening after his vehicle was struck by a high-speed Amtrak train in Justin, Texas.
The collision occurred at the BNSF crossing on 5th Street. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner identified the motorist as Deandre Jerri Harper. The medical examiner recorded this incident and Mr. Harper’s time of death at 6:43 pm. The Amtrak train had 54 passengers onboard at the time of the collision.
According to railroad-submitted reports, there was a prior collision at this crossing almost exactly a year prior, on November 16, 2022. The crossing has three sets of tracks, one mainline track, one siding track, and one yard track. The crossing also accommodates a daily average of twenty-two trains, including two daily passenger trains, at speeds of 79 mph. This multi-track BNSF crossing is also very close to the roadway intersection of FM 407 and FM 156. There are lights and gates at the crossing, but it is unknown if they were working properly or if the motorist was trapped on the crossing due to traffic stopped at the nearby roadway intersection.
The police are investigating this collision.
