Woman Dies, Husband Injured by Amtrak Train at Dangerous, Unguarded UPRR Crossing
(St. Louis County, Missouri – July 29, 2012)
Two brothers and their wives, each couple riding an ATV, crossed a dangerous, unguarded Union Pacific crossing of a private road (Robert Koch Hospital Road) in south St. Louis County, MO Saturday evening about 8:10 P.M., with the second ATV being stuck by an Amtrak passenger train travelling at 79 mph. The woman was killed and the man was seriously injured.
Patricia Dempsey, 28, of south St. Louis County, was flown to St. Anthony’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Her 32-year-old husband was transported to another hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
The crossing of UPRR tracks is “protected” only with passive signage and has no active protective devices such as flashing lights, bells or gates. The road serves the Bussen Quarries Jefferson Barracks facility on the Mississippi River.
