On Thursday afternoon, a Trinity Railway Express train collided with a pick-up truck in Irving, Texas, killing the truck driver. A spokesman for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) stated that the red pick-up truck turned north onto Irby Lane near Rock Island Road, moving into the train crossing while the eastbound train approached.
Both the train and the crossing signals appeared to be working properly, but witnesses said that the crossing’s safety arms were still upright before the auto accident occurred. However, the DART spokesman claims that a safety mechanism triggered by another vehicle had caused the arms to go upright.
Video of the train accident confirms that all four arms at the crossing were down before the train entered the intersection, but when a white truck made contact with the northwestern arm, a safety feature was activated that caused the arms to raise up, confusing the driver of the red pick-up truck. Since the crossing is in a “quiet zone” and trains are not allowed to blow their horns as a warning, drivers must pay attention to flashing lights, bells, and safety arms instead.
The accident is still under investigation.
If you have been seriously injured in an auto accident or train accident in Texas or anywhere else in the United States, please contact The Malley Law Firm today or call (877) 793-5331 to schedule a free case evaluation.
