(The following story by Cheryl Berzanskis appeared on the Amarillo Globe-News website on October 5, 2009.)
AMARILLO, Texas — Two men were in critical condition Monday after the sport utility vehicle in which they were traveling tried to bypass a railroad crossing gate and was struck by an oncoming train.
Leandro Cabelo, 29, and his passenger, Gustavo Duran Hernandez, 27, suffered “very life-threatening” injuries when a train, horn sounding, collided with Cabelo’s Chevrolet Tahoe shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday. The crash was at North Eastern Street and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe train tracks, police Cpl. Jerry Neufeld said.
“The crossing arms were in the down position and the lights were flashing,” he said.
Cabelo and Hernandez were listed in critical condition at Northwest Texas Hospital. The Traffic Investigation Division of the Police Department is investigating.
“We have no idea why they did not stop at the lights, at the crossing,” Neufeld said.
Texas leads the nation in the number of collisions of vehicles and trains, according to Texas Operation Lifesaver, a nonprofit group that promotes railway safety.
Last year, the state recorded 228 collisions, with 93 injuries and 17 fatalities. It wasn’t clear Monday how many occurred at rail crossings with safety gates.
Amarillo police records show that during a four-year period ending last year, there were four accidents involving a vehicle and train, Neufeld said.
BNSF says it encourages locomotive engineers to report to police motorists who dodge warning gates.
“Hopefully, it will encourage the public to act a little more responsibly around these particular crossings,” BNSF spokesman Joe Faust said.