Preventing railroad crossing accidents

Authorities increasing enforcement near railroad tracks in Toledo in an effort to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on the tracks.

Norfolk Southern's Toledo Safety Commitee visited area residents and businesses to hand out educational materials about railroad safety. Their main focus is between Holloway Road in Maumee and Oakdale Avenue in Toledo.

In 2009 two people were killed and one was injured in train accidents in Metro Toledo.

One of the reasons the tracks are more dangerous now is because of seamless rail.

"The seamless rail they're smooth," said Gary Hedgepath, Norfolk Southern Police Department. "You have people out wearing MP3s and cell phones and iPods. Sometimes they'll be walking down the center of the gauge and it's possible they don't hear the trains."

Law enforcement officials said on Thursday they will patrol the tracks and issue trespassing citations.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• norfolk
• southern
• railroad
• safety