TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE: RAILROAD CROSSING GETS LIGHTS, GATES AFTER FATAL ACCIDENT
(Oxford Township, Ohio – February 17, 2011) The railroad crossing of Taylor Road, where 83-year-old Ohio native was killed when a CSX train hit his dump truck Nov. 7, now has lights and gates. Installation of the protective devices had been approved prior to the fatal railroad accident, but had not begun. At the time, the crossing was marked only with caution (crossbuck) signs. According to The Oxford Press, “Both crossings (Taylor Road and Ringwood Road) were singled out two years ago for more security by Oxford Twp. Trustees because of increasing traffic.” The October 12, 2010 minutes of the Oxford Township Trustees meeting noted that “The CSX Railway is in the process of replacing ties and repairing crossings from Hamilton, Ohio to Cottage Grove, Indiana and this might slow down the installation of the gates and lights. The PUCO has given them a year to do the project which will be sometime in the spring of 2011.” Less than a month after the progress report, Mr. Klaus was killed at the still-unsignalized railroad crossing.
