On Friday morning, a 63-year-old woman and her grandson were traveling in a car when their vehicle was struck by a train. Investigators stated that the woman was traveling northbound on Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard when she decided to attempt an illegal left turn on South Broadview Avenue where it is only one-way traffic. Police believe that she did not hear the horn of the train and there was not a stop arm because traffic should not be coming from that direction. There were, however, do not enter signs posted. Both the woman and her 12-year-old grandson were taken by ambulance to the emergency room where tragically, she passed away. The boy suffered minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. Authorities are continuing to investigate that accident and are trying to determine the cause for the driver to travel down the one-lane road.
Collisions involving trains nearly always result in serious injuries and/or death due to the force of the impact. Trains with 150 freight cars take over a mile to stop when traveling at 50 mph, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. The weight and speed of a train create a force of impact that is severe. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded that an individual is 20 times more likely to die in an accident with a train compared to any other vehicle.
The St. Louis personal injury attorneys at Meyerkord & Kurth fight for the rights of accident victims. Our attorneys have the experience and dedication needed to provide you with the best possible representation following an accident. If you or a loved one has been involved in a train accident, contact our office to receive a free consultation.