Benton County, Washington – One Person Injured in Car-Train Collision

Benton County, Washington (April 1, 2020) – One person was injured in a car-train collision that occurred on Toothacre Road on Wednesday. According to an article from KEPR News, a 45 year-old passenger in the car was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries. No other injuries were reported in the incident.

According to information from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the 35 year-old driver of the car was not paying attention at the railroad crossing. The train crashed into the car, causing the vehicle to be pushed 20 feet off the tracks.

About Train Accidents

While train accidents can be deadly, they are among the safest forms of transportation, with a fatality rate much lower than car or motorcycle accidents. Derailments, which can lead to many train-related accidents, are said to be common but are most likely harmless, with trains only causing damage or injuries if the derailment causes the train to crash into a structure or another train. However, while riding the train is relatively safe, a collision with one is likely to be deadly. This is because trains can weigh over millions of pounds. According to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, the average freight train consisting of 100 cars can weigh from 12 million to twenty million pounds – this weight combined with the speed of a train can cause great impact. Additionally, this weight also delays the effect of an emergency brake, which may need distance of over a mile to fully halt a train. Because of this, it is important to always remain alert near railroads.

While trains have many safety features, it is everyone’s responsibility to be safe around tracks. Keeping in mind that trains cannot swerve nor quickly stop, so pedestrians and drivers alike must take care to keep off tracks when a rain is approaching. Never underestimate the speed of an oncoming train, which may look like it’s approaching slowly due to optical illusions. Lastly, one must always watch out for the presence of a second train. By keeping alert and following regulations, we can help avoid train accidents from happening.

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