(Hattiesburg, Mississippi – December 26, 2020)
Two adults were killed and their infant child was hospitalized after their Nissan Altima was struck at a high-speed Amtrak train. The collision occurred at a railroad-highway grade crossing near the roadway intersection of E Scooba St. and Eastside Ave in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The crossing is owned and maintained by Norfolk Southern Railway Company. According to media reports, the collision occurred around 6:15 pm on December 26, 2020.
The Amtrak train involved in the collision was traveling from New York to New Orleans. None of the passengers on the Amtrak train were injured.
According to records submitted by Norfolk Southern, there have been seven prior collisions at this crossing. The prior collisions resulted in ten injuries and one death. The records also reveal a daily average of ten trains operate over the crossing at speeds up to 79 miles per hour.
Although the crossing appears to be equipped with lights and gates, it is unclear if they were properly operating at the time of the collision.
State and local law enforcement authorities were continuing to investigate the collision.