The Chillicothe Gazette reports that two people were killed Friday afternoon when the car they were riding in collided with a train. The accident occurred near Piketon in the vicinity of 400 River Road. Piketon is approximately 60 miles south of Columbus.
Dead are an elderly woman and a three year old child. The child’s mother survived the crash and is listed in stable condition at the Wexner Medical Center. All three are from Waverly.
The Piketon Police Department states that when first responders arrived on scene they found a Ford Ranger pickup had been struck by a northbound Norfolk and Southern Railroad freight train. The two women and the child were trapped inside the wreckage of the vehicle. The elderly lady was pronounced dead at the scene and the little girl was pronounced dead at Adena Pike Hospital.
The accident remains under investigation.
It’s not surprising, unfortunately, when a railroad train hits a car in Ohio. According to the Public Utilities Commission, Ohio is a busy train state, with 36 freight railroads operating within its borders and approximately 5,700 public grade crossings. Ohio in fact ranks fifth in the United States when it comes to freight carried by rail. In 2014 alone, 76 collisions occurred between vehicles and trains.
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While flashing lights and roadway gates may seem mandatory at all crossings they are not. And those crossings that do have such safety equipment must be regularly inspected to ensure those features are working properly. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio is charged with conducting those inspections.
We at The Fitch Law Firm wish the best for the survivor of this tragedy. And we extend our condolences to friends and family of the deceased. As a car accident injury law firm we know that such an accident has life changing consequences.
Do you have questions about an automobile accident that you or someone you know has been involved in? For a free consultation about accident law and your rights, call today. Compensation may be possible.