Double Fatality In McMinn County Tennessee Car Train Collision
Car Train Collision
A recent article on the website of WRBC in Chattanooga Tennessee about a fatal car train collision in McMinn County Tennessee reminded me that I haven’t written lately about the hazard at railroad crossing. My prayers go out to the married couple who died and their family and friends. Accidents like this don’t need to happen if drivers just pay attention and take some simple precautions. According to witnesses the train engineer saw the car coming and was all over the horn but the crossing vehicle never even slowed down and pulled directly into the path of the train.
The best place to find out about the relevant Railroad crossing signs is the Tennessee Drivers Study Guide which you can get online or from the nearest Tennessee Department of Safety Driver’s License office. The railroad crossing sign is round and has a large X with the letters RR in the middle. This circular sign always means that you are approaching a railroad grade crossing. You must slow down and be ready to stop.
This sign tells you that it is up to you to stop if you see a train coming. More than 200 traffic crashes occur each year at railroad crossings. Do not play with your life trying to “beat the train.” After the warning sign you will see a sign known as a crossbuck sign. It is placed at all railroad grade crossings and shows exactly where the tracks are located.
Notice the smaller signs placed on the post directly below the crossbuck. They show the number of tracks at a particular crossing. This is very important because, when there are two or more tracks, one train passing might hide the approach of a train from the other direction.
Some crossbucks are equipped with two lights underneath the “X.” Flashing lights on a crossbuck mean that a train is coming. Always stop when the lights are flashing. Remain stopped until the train has passed. If there is more than one track, be sure all tracks are clear before crossing. Some crossbucks are equipped with both flashing lights and a gate. Stop when the lights begin flashing and before the gate comes down. Remain stopped until the gates are raised and the lights stop flashing.
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a serious Tennessee car accident due to somebody else’s negligence, then you may be feeling angry, frightened, or even alone in your suffering.
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Phillip Miller is a Tennessee Accident Attorney specializing in
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