Mock Train Crash Promotes Rail Crossing Safety

MANHATTAN, IL – The importance of never crossing train tracks when the gates are down was shown Sunday afternoon in Manhattan when Metra held a controlled demonstration of a train striking an SUV stuck on the tracks. The demonstration came at the end of Illinois Rail Safety Week.

An out-of-service locomotive and SUV that had reached the end of its useful life were used for the demonstration, which took place near a section of Smith Road in Manhattan. The SUV was left on the tracks at a crossing as the train came through and crashed into it, sending the car into numerous pieces and forcing it to rollover off the tracks.

It was meant to show the deadly consequences that could occur as a result of motorists who attempt to beat a train and get stuck on the tracks. Smith Road remained closed between Cedar Road and Eastern Avenue until 5 p.m.

“This event stressed the importance of situational awareness when people are near railroad tracks, platforms and crossings, which can be extremely dangerous,” Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski said.

In 2017, there were more than 2,100 railroad crossing collisions involving motor vehicles nationwide, which resulted in more than 270 fatalities and more than 800 injuries. In Illinois in 2017, there were more than 100 railroad crossing collisions involving motor vehicles; these collisions resulted in 25 fatalities and 29 injuries.

"We hope this (demonstration) will help stop track tragedies," said Chip Pew of Operation Lifesaver.

There were 46 trespassing incidents on railroad property in Illinois in 2017, which resulted in 20 fatalities and 26 injuries. That year, Illinois ranked second in the nation in grade crossing fatalities and seventh in the nation in trespassing fatalities.

Dave Martinez, a locomotive engineer and regulatory compliance manager for Metra, says he hopes "exercises like this will continue to drive those numbers down."

"If we can prevent one person from going around the gate... if we can prevent one life, we are saving more than just one life. We are also saving the crew the anguish they will always have to live with."

Watch the demonstration below via Metra:

Screenshot via Metra