(The following story by Joyce Lobeck appeared on the Yuma Sun website on August 17, 2009.)
YUMA, Ariz. — Union Pacific officials were in Yuma Monday morning with a message: Don’t try to beat an oncoming train.
That could be a fatal error in judgment, noted Jorge Villaescusa, a grade crossing collision investigator with the police department for the railroad’s western region, which includes Arizona.
He likened a train hitting a car to a vehicle crushing an aluminum can.
Yet all too often, motorists will take a chance by trying to beat the warning arms at a railroad crossing, or even go around them, he said. Villaescusa was in Yuma for an exercise to raise awareness of the danger of such actions.
And Yumans are no exception.
During a 2-1/2 hour exercise targeting violators at the crossing of a railroad spur to the cardboard box plant on 24th Street just west of Avenue 3E, there were a number of drivers who took that chance, Villaescusa said.
That particular crossing has not been the scene of a deadly accident yet, he said. However, there have been a number of near misses and reports by train crews of impatient drivers who try to beat the crossing arms and the oncoming train.
As a result, the crossing was chosen for the CARE – Crossing Accident Reduction Enforcement – exercise.
“We’re trying to be proactive in minimizing such incidents,” he said.
CARE is part of Union Pacific’s program, Operation Lifesaver (www.operationlifesaver.org), a nationwide, nonprofit public safety education and outreach program designed to eliminate collisions, deaths and injuries where streets and roads cross railroad tracks at grade and on railroad rights of way.
As guests on a specially equipped passenger train, community leaders and law enforcement officers had an opportunity to see what train crew members see because video cameras are mounted in the locomotive cabs broadcasting to television monitors in the passenger cars.
Police officers also were stationed at the east and west sides of the crossing to issue citations and offer railroad crossing safety advice that could save a life.
“This special train is just one way we can work to educate and call attention to highway-railroad grade crossing and pedestrian safety,” said Jim Farmer Jr., Union Pacific director of transportation services, western region. “We always look for unique ways to deliver our safety message to the general public and civic leaders.”
During Monday’s exercise, 12 citations were issued, three drivers received warnings and 21 vehicles got away before being cited, Villaescusa said.
“With some of the violations, the gate almost hit the top of the vehicle,” he said. “That’s getting close.”
His advice: “Come to a complete stop and wait until the arms go up. It only takes five or 10 minutes. Is that worth risking your life over?”
Villaescusa said he issues citations when he sees violations, especially when he sees infant seats and small children in the back seat. “I would rather issue a citation than investigate a fatality.”
Violations at railroad crossings are governed by Arizona state statute 28-851, said Clint Norred, Yuma Police Department spokesman. The fine for the first offense is $260, he added.
“The police department works closely with Union Pacific,” Norred said. “There are a lot of railroad properties through the city. It’s vital to increase public awareness with railroad safety.”
In Arizona in 2008, there were 22 railroad crossing collisions resulting in one fatality and 13 injuries, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. There also were 13 fatalities from trespassing incidents and 15 injuries.