(Orange Township, Ohio – December 29, 2018)
A 61-year old Ohio man, not publicly identified pending notification of relatives, died at the dangerous and unguarded crossing of double Norfolk Southern tracks and Franklin Street in Orange Township, near Lewis Center, OH Saturday morning about 9:00 AM, EST.
It was the fourth collision and second fatality to occur at the crossing. The crossing accommodates a daily average of 38 NS trains at a maximum allowable speed of 60 mph. Yet, it is not equipped with any active warning devices, such as lights and gates.
The existence of another, separate and parallel railroad crossing of CSX rails just a few yards beyond this crossing adds to its dangerous nature.The adjacent crossing experienced a non-injury accident just last year. It has also been the tragic site of two earlier collisions, one which resulted in a serious injury to the motorist, and the other a fatality.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was investigating the tragedy with the assistance of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office.