Two Injured in Minnesota by Amtrak Train at Dangerous, Unguarded Canadian Pacific Crossing
(La Crescent, Minnesota – July 4, 2018)
The driver and a passenger of a pickup truck were taken to a local hospital after being removed from their heavily-damaged vehicle which was struck by Amtrak’s “Empire Builder” at the unguarded Canadian Pacific crossing of Shore Acres Road just east of La Crescent, MN Wednesday shortly after noon, CDT.
The names of the motorist and passenger have not been released, but La Crescent Chief of Police Doug Stavenau told WKBT-TV, that “No citations or arrests will be issued” in regard to the collision which occurred as the Amtrak train was headed for Lacrosse, WI.
The crossing, which accommodates about seven CP Rail and Amtrak trains daily at a maximum allowable speed of 30 mph, has no automatic warning devices like flashing lights and crossing gates, items which certainly would have prevented the collision. Both Canadian Pacific and Operation Lifesaver know that lights and gates are the most effective type of protection at railroad crossings and studies have confirmed that lights and gates offer the ability to drastically reduce the number of vehicle/train collisions by as much as 96%.