Rail Accidents During Safety Week

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It was rail safety week in Indiana and ironically, the state has had it’s share of railroad related accidents this week.

In Frankfort, Indiana, a train hit a pedestrian on Monday. An 18-year-old was said to have been wearing headphones while walking on the tracks when he was hit. He was last reported in critical but stable condition at an Indianapolis Hospital.

In Vigo County on Wednesday, a passenger vehicle tried to turn around and got stuck on the railroad tracks. The driver left his vehicle and shortly after, the car was hit by two trains travelling in opposite directions. The car was destroyed and the train engines were damaged. There were no injuries.

In Lafayette, Indiana, on Wednesday, a train derailed for unknown reasons sending four of the trains cars into the Wabash River there. There were no injuries. Repairs continue on the tracks on the bridge over the river.

All of those incidents happened during a week when several organizations and law enforcement agencies were working to bring awareness to safety around railroad tracks when walking or driving.

Experts say in all of North America, over 2,000 people are injured or killed because of unsafe behavior around railroad tracks.