MOBILE, Ala. — The driver of a vehicle was killed Wednesday when an Amtrak train performing crew-qualification runs for the upcoming launch of Gulf Coast service struck his car at a Mobile grade crossing.
The vehicle caught fire in the collision, damaging the front of one of the locomotives.
Police say they believe the driver, identified by authorities as 28-year-old Chadwick Timmons, drove around crossing gates in an effort to beat the train. WPMI-TV quotes a witness that confirms that belief: “He was trying to beat the train … the [crossing-gate] arms were down and he was in between them.”
There were no injuries on board the train.
The crew qualification runs began in February. At the same time, Amtrak, Operation Lifesaver, the Southern Rail Commission, and local authorities launched an education and safety campaign to inform the public about the presence of passenger trains on the route [see “Amtrak to begin crew qualification runs …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 6, 2023].
Maybe we need 4 quadrant protection as some crossings? Yet, foolishness and autonomy know no bounds at any age. And it is just not railroad crossings where this is evident. Just think of any stop sign or traffic light and the ignorance of drivers evidenced by failure to obey long standing traffic laws.
Joseph, an FRA official I know has the following with her email signature:
SEE TRACKS, THINK TRAIN. endmrw0427231832
The gene pool needs chlorine from time-to-time…
Once again another senseless accident that could have been avoided if not for motorists thinking that they can beat the train to the grade crossing. Here in Orlando, I have witnessed some of the crazy and stupid things people do crossing the tracks not only motorists but bikers and pedestrians too. Even so far as to see people duck under crossing gates when in the down position and people dashing across the trackswhile a train is coming down the tracks. No matter how hard an engineer will try his or her best to stop the train when they see something like and prevent a tragic accident it will take a few hundred feet to bring that that train to a halt and enough time to avoid a collision. An engineer in the cab going through this is forever going to have that replaying in their minds and will and can have a traumatic effect on them for the rest of their lives. I wouldn’t be surprised if eventually train operating crews will suffer PTSD after these accidents and undergo treatment and counseling. Not everybody can handle these horrific accidents and all because of careless motorists, bikers or pedestrians not following some basic common sense rules and caution and alertness around railroad tracks and grade crossings. There was a saying for many years and might still be used which goes as this “Any time is train time”
Joseph C. Markfelder
“Common Sense” is an oxymoron.
Well, isn’t that special? Who could make you say such a thing? Who could it be…
Not surprised. People from LA think they own the road and RR crossings here. Friend says one run around our gates here in front of CSX IM. Its time to make the fines so high that enforcement will increase.
LA = Lower Alabama
I volunteer for Operation Lifesaver in Washington State and realize how important the education of the public is based on conversations I have with many residents. Many people do not have a clue as to what goes on or the dynamic forces in railroading.
While this was NOT a suicide incident. A RR cop told a crew when people do this, They only see a big machine and don’t realize how two people in the cab will remember this for the rest of their lives. endmrw0427231119
This is certainly tragic, not only for the victim but the entire crew involved. I think all of us that ran the rails remembers his or her first sight of a vehicle trying to beat the train. You realize how helpless we are when motorist and pedestrians ignore safety and command of their driving. I had a fear every time I saw a tanker truck, loaded log truck or a school bus possibly approaching a crossing.
Operation Lifesaver is a free public service. If you’ve never attended one, please consider attending one. First timers and Old timers will leave knowing more about trains than they possibly knew before listening and observing the Safety Presentation.
The train wins.
Sad, but only a matter all T&E crews deal with, “not if, but only when” nothing will overcome the ultimate stupidity of too many citizens.
And what about those of us who receive the train for inspection after the accident? That smell of “death” lingers long after the incident. If it’s bad enough we would call out a contractor who would scoop up the remains and deposit them in a bucket awaiting a biohazard pickup. Then they would spray the affected areas with bleach. Yet, that smell of death lingers. Nothing will erase that from my mind.
Got a whiff of THAT SMELL but fortunately from a late moose that had challenged a VIA train in New Brunswick. It took only a few minutes in August sun for the flies to start showing up–then the odor started. Fortunately the train soon left Moncton.