(The Associated Press circulated the following article by Amy Geier Edgar on January 6.)
AIKEN, S.C. — In a span of just two short months, the tiny town of Graniteville has dealt with two deadly train collisions.
At least two people were killed and dozens injured when two Norfolk Southern trains crashed early Thursday morning and spilled a hazardous chemical near Avondale Mills Inc. Law enforcement did not immediately identify the dead on Thursday afternoon.
In November, five mill employees were killed when their car was struck near the same location by another Norfolk Southern train.
The victims were Connie Bodie, 26; Tammy Wilson, 36; Nathaniel Hay, 21; and Michael Mack, 39; all of Williston; and Monica Myers, 41, of Springfield.
Witnesses told police in that accident that the car was trying to beat the train.
It’s a great deal of tragedy for one small town to handle, said state Rep. Roland Smith, R-Langley. “My concern is that in some cases, it’s going to take some long-term counseling,” Smith said.
Smith wants to see the speed limit lowered for trains traveling through the community. The speed limit for trains in that area is 49 mph. Smith said that’s too fast for a train moving though a town.
“This crossing is in the middle of a community with homes and schools,” Smith said.
He also wants to see crossing arms added in Graniteville.
He has contacted officials with the Department of Transportation and National Transportation Safety Board about making changes.
Rep. Skipper Perry, R-Aiken, said he thinks the two accidents are coincidental. He said he doesn’t think speed had anything to do with Thursday’s accident, and he said it’s the responsibility of drivers to stop at the railroad crossing to avoid tragedies like the deaths in November.
“It’s a tragedy, but it just happened,” Perry said. “I don’t think that particular place is a jinx.”