Railroad crossing casualties increase in 2016

Idaho officials are concerned about an increase in collisions and casualties at railroad crossings. Idaho Operation Lifesaver statistics show there were 20 collisions between trains and motor vehicles at railroad crossings last year. While there were no deaths in 2016, there were 9 injuries reported, up 350% from 2015. “We are concerned with this increase in highway-rail grade crossing collisions,” said Idaho Operation Lifesaver State Coordinator Travis Campbell. “We will continue our work giving people across Idaho important information on how to keep themselves, their friends and their families’ safe near tracks and trains.” Overall, Idaho crossing collisions were up 66.7 percent in 2016 from 2015, to 20; crossing fatalities fell 100 percent to 0; and crossing injuries rose 350 percent to 9, FRA statistics reveal. Trespass fatalities didn’t change from 2015 to 2016, and trespass injuries rose 33.5%in 2016 to 4. Nationally, vehicle-train crashes at highway-rail grade crossings fell 2.4 percent in 2016.