Brother T.O. “Tom” Landris, a 27-year member of BLE Division 650 (Durand, Mich.), was killed in a head-on collision just outside of Detroit, Mich., on November 15, 2001. Also killed was UTU Member Gary Chase.
Their train, #243, was traveling from Flat Rock, Mich., to Flint, Mich., when it collided head-on with train #533, in a siding near Springfield Township. A fiery blaze ensured, forcing the evacuation of 100 homes in the area. Brother Landris was 49 years old at the time of his death.