On Tuesday, January 27, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department obtained a 9-1-1 call of a pickup truck and train accident at the railroad crossing located at 18B Road and Dewberry Road in Tippecanoe Township.
Officer Les McFarland responded and investigated the accident. He learned that Joshua Ramer of Argos was traveling northbound on Dewberry Road when his trailer became stuck on the railroad crossing. A Norfolk Southern train was traveling eastbound when the train struck the pickup and trailer causing damage to the train, pickup, trailer and railroad crossing signal.
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department urges drivers that trains cannot stop quickly; it takes almost a mile and a half for a train traveling at normal speed to stop. Trains can also move in either direction and are often pushed by locomotives rather than pulled. Never cross tracks unless there is room on the other side to completely clear the tracks.
When crossing tracks, listen and look both ways. Never race a train to the crossing. It is illegal to go around lowered crossing gates. If a train is approaching the crossing, stop at least 15 feet from the rail.
Deputy McFarland was assisted at the scene by the Bourbon Police Department and Norfolk Southern Railroad Police.
