Three people were killed in Monroe County on Wednesday evening after a train struck a van that had been stuck on tracks. The accident occurred around 6:20 PM on a private drive near the intersection of Collier and Goodwyne roads, when a Ford Flex became stuck while attempting to cross the tracks. A man reportedly saw the train approaching and was attempting to get them out when the collision occurred. The man, age 47, and both women — 93 and 66 years old — died at the scene.
The train was reportedly a Norfolk Southern freight train, headquartered in Atlanta since 2018, which is a major transporter of domestic and export coal, According to Operation Lifesaver, the U.S. sees about 2,000 train accidents a year, resulting in around 200 deaths and more than 700 injuries. Georgia has the third-highest rate of train accidents occurring as a result of rail crossing collisions, with more than 100 a year, resulting in numerous deaths and dozens of injuries.
It is estimated that a train collides with a vehicle once every three hours in the U.S. While trains automatically have the right-of-way at crossings due to their inability to stop quickly or change directions, there are a number of considerations that go into investigating an accident where a vehicle has become stuck on the tracks, including determining the condition of the track where the vehicle became stuck, as well as any vehicle defects that would have factored into the collision.
If you have been injured or have lost a loved one due to a train accident, an experienced personal injury attorney from Cambre & Associates can help you understand the process of seeking compensation. Contact us for a free case evaluation.
