ARLINGTON -- City officials say they will intensify discussions on railroad crossing safety after a train collision sent one man to the hospital Friday with life-threatening injuries.
The train wreck was the city's third in one year.Raan Hunter, 32, of Kennedale was driving a flatbed truck when he collided with an Amtrak Texas Eagle train at a private crossing near West Division Street and Dottie Lynn Parkway.Megan Hunter, his wife, said late Saturday that he was in critical condition and has been unresponsive since the crash. She said the couple is raising six children ages 11 through 17.The collision was the second in that area and the third on the Union Pacific line since October.City Manager Trey Yelverton said he could think of only two other train wrecks in the city in the past 20 years."It's unusual we've had this clustering of accidents in a tight area," Yelverton said. "We've had three accidents along the rail the last 12 months. Two in that location and one closer to the downtown area."Yelverton said city officials are looking at ways to improve communication about railroad crossing safety."We want to make sure people are safe. Not only the people crossing and on the railroad vehicles but the people who are around where an accident occurs," he said.Yelverton said there is no clear-cut answer on how to improve safety at the location of Friday's crash because the road is private."We'll be working in the future for various alternatives to improve safety in the area," he said. "But is that where we want to place our resources, at a private drive?"Councilwoman Kathryn Wilemon, who represents the area where the wreck occurred, said that although the road is private, more cars are traveling on it to get to a wedding and events facility in the area."There's beginning to be more traffic there," Wilemon said. "I know the landowner wants a solution, I know Union Pacific wants a solution, and I know the city wants a solution. I don't know what that solution is, but hopefully we can get one soon."Brad Ham said he was working at a nearby liquor store Friday when he heard "a screech and a slam."Ham said Saturday that he didn't hear the train sound a horn, something he says is unusual for that area."Usually, if you aren't paying attention, it will startle you," Ham said. "We were outside at the time and didn't hear anything except for the crash."Raquel Espinoza, director of corporate relations and media for Union Pacific Railroad's southern region, said federal law requires crews to sound a horn only at public crossings."Privately, there might be an agreement between the road owner and the railway," she said. "The train engineer also has the discretion at sounding the horn."Amtrak spokesman Steve Kulm said he could not comment about whether a horn was sounded, but he said railroad safety on private roadways is generally the responsibility of the owner of the roadway.Kulm referred questions about the investigation to the Arlington Police Department.Arlington police officer Zhivonni McDonnell said the railroad is conducting the investigation.Espinoza, of Union Pacific, said Amtrak is handling the investigation along with Arlington police.No other information on the investigation was available late Saturday.Susan McFarland, 817-390-7684Twitter: @susanmcfarland1Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
