FULTS, Ill. — A Union Pacific train hit a tractor at a grade crossing in a rural area about 40 miles south of St. Louis on Friday evening, killing the driver of the tractor and derailing 30 cars of the train.
The Republic-Times newspaper reports that Monroe County coroner identified the victim as 23-year-old Jonah Matthews of Waterloo, Ill. A statement from the coroner said Matthews was “driving a tractor southwest across the tracks when he was struck and killed by a southbound train.” Police reported the crossing had no gates.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported hazardous-material teams were dispatched to the scene; KTVI-TV in St. Louis reported that while several cars of the train caught fire, but no hazardous materials were involved.
It appears to be double track thru the area and reportedly the young man on the tractor stopped for one train but was struck by a second going the opposite direction. Details unmentioned by TRAINSMAG.
Braden I don’t know what’s going on with all these grade crossing incidents BUT. In Warren Co. New Jersey we had a tractor trailer run into the moving train last Wed. The crossing had gates, lights, even a traffic signal that had a sign saying no left turn when the gates were down! It’s a slow speed line I think around 15 mph so no one was hurt. The driver said he had the radio on loud and didn’t hear the train but I guess he went blind also.
This is why “autonomous” operation, either on streets or rails, is very questionable. The operating area must be either human free or have human level AI.
Man …What is going on with all these grade crossing incidents?!