Year’s first train collision sparks calls for caution

Idaho saw its first train collision of the year Friday when the driver of an SUV failed to yield to an oncoming train in the Tyhee area.

Chase Fernandez, 23, said he was heading east across the rail tracks on Tyhee Road at Dekay Road around 5:20 p.m. Friday when the train struck the back passenger side of his vehicle. He said he didn’t see or hear the train until he was already halfway across the tracks.

A Pocatello-based group called Operation Lifesaver says train collisions are common in Idaho and are urging motorists to learn from this recent one.

“When people are coming up to a grade crossing, they need to remember to look and listen and they’ll live,” said Travis Campbell, state coordinator for the group.

On Monday afternoon, a Local News 8 camera captured a van speeding across the tracks on Tyhee Road without bothering to stop at a stop sign.

Campbell said he sees things like this all the time.

“These trains are very heavy. They can take up to and over a mile to stop,” said Campbell.

Even when there isn’t a stop sign, Campbell said trains always have the right of way — even over emergency vehicles.

“The crossbuck is a yield sign. That means yield to the train,” said Campbell.

Fernandez told Local News he did stop at the stop sign Friday, but said when he checked the tracks, sunlight obstructed his view.

Idaho State Police issued Fernandez a citation.

Campbell said that last year there were 16 train collisions in Idaho.

A fatal one took place last month when a high school student died after his truck was struck by a train in Shelley.