TheTandD.com | Woman unhurt after train hits car

Woman unhurt after train hits car

By T&D StaffWednesday, July 16, 2008

An 87-year-old Orangeburg woman emerged unscathed Wednesday but her car needs a bit of work after a collision with a passing Norfolk Southern train off Magnolia Street.

Officials said Kathleen Crosby appears to have suffered no injuries during a collision with a southbound train at Magnolia and Glover streets.

“It appears that she was crossing over heading to the bank and the (crossing) arms were coming down,” Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Capt. Ed Conner said. “She said she didn’t see the lights.”

Emergency crews were dispatched to the site at 10:08 a.m., finding the woman’s 2005 Chevrolet Malibu was missing its front bumper.

Officials noticed the woman’s front windshield was cracked and scrape marks lined her hood. Conner said investigators believe the woman attempted to reverse course after the crossing arm barrier came down, damaging her hood.

The woman was not believed to be injured.

“She was unhurt, very responsive, very alert,” ODPS Sgt. Donnell Shuler said.

Traffic was detoured for about 15 minutes around the intersection and at the nearby junction of Magnolia and John C. Calhoun Drive.

The woman has been charged with disregarding a traffic control device, officials said.

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15 comment(s)

The following comments are reader submitted. They do not represent the views of The T&D or Lee Enterprises.

wagreen1 wrote on Jul 22, 2008 2:00 PM:

" To ok. I did not say that the railroad did not bring any jobs. I know it does. I'm still saying the railroad can be rerouted, tunneled or bridge over and still service those companies. They are not servicing them on Bouldevard,Magnolia or Glover but people are being hurt or killed. The tracks can be rerouted and still service those industries. Again you are thinking small minded and conservative as usual and people will continue to get hurt or killed until someone prominent is affected. "

ok! wrote on Jul 21, 2008 1:18 PM:

" TO: wagreen1

The R/R does service Industries in our area, I know this to be a fact because I work in the Industrial Park on 21 and the R/R is a big part of our Company...... Sorry but you are wrong on this one, more companys prefer to be in access to a R/R for the sake of shipments. It's a fact. My employer as well as 4 other local company's that I know of for sure use the R/R on a daily basis. Take the R/R and you may take the buisness...... at the least and estimate of 1000 jobs...

As for safety like I expressed before, it is up to us to be cautious and careful when it comes to R/R crossings. People need to slow down and look just like your drivers manuals instruct you to do. "

mikebrown wrote on Jul 21, 2008 7:24 AM:

" There are times that I see people come to a stop light that has tracks at the light, and some people will stop on the tracks. They are asking for trouble. If you will notice there is a wide white line showing you where to stop. It is plane and simple DON'T STOP ON THE TRACKS AT ANY TIME. "

wagreen1 wrote on Jul 18, 2008 10:00 AM:

" To ok, people should pay attention, but obviously the tracks are dangerous and people are getting hurt and killed even with the precautions taken by Norfolk Southern. As far as jobs, what jobs is that railroad bringing to the city or county none. If you ever left Orangeburg and saw where they have either raised or buried the tracks, ex. Atlanta's Underground, Columbia Harden St. you will see that it can be done. If it means saving lives it should be done. The county has a penny tax in effect those proceeds could be used for that project. From the outside looking in that is a complete eyesore and makes it seems that no one cares when you have a train going through a busy intersection 60 miles an hour during a parade or any other time. Again stop thinking outside the nine dots if you want to beautify and clean up your city and make more attractive to business you will change your mindset. No one is gaining any jobs by that train coming through town 60 miles an hour. It will only hit home when some again that is prominent in that community gets hurt. "

ATL wrote on Jul 17, 2008 3:08 PM:

" To duh: Trust me, I do have my ducks lined up. Theres a a big difference between trespassing on the railroad and "crossing" the railroad. That law clearly does not apply to anyone crossing the railroads such as simply driving your car to cross a railroad or walking over the railroad during a parade. Otherwise the Railroad wouldnt categorize railroad related accidents as: "Trespassing related accidents", and "Crossing related accidents" "

southwind wrote on Jul 17, 2008 11:36 AM:

" There seem to always be persons who drive motor vehicles that will not respect the size and power of a locomotive hauled train. The grade crossings in our city are CLEARLY marked with crossbuck signs at a minimum, and Norfolk-
Southern has flashing lights as well as crossing gates at almost every one of their crossings, with quite sufficient warning to any driver who approaches the crossing expecting that a train may be coming. I have to wonder if EVERY driver looks at the lights ( and the crossing bell starts ringing loudly at the same time!) BEFORE they begin to cross! "

duh... wrote on Jul 17, 2008 10:03 AM:

" Atl....That's exactly what it means..Everyone who crosses railroad property is tresspassing...and yes, the city should alter the routes...South Carolina statute 58-17-4096 defines the tresspassing law for South Carolina....genius...You may want to get your ducks in a row....If you want I'll provide you with the federal statute as well. "

cherokee wrote on Jul 17, 2008 7:41 AM:

" I beg to differ with Duh. The City can force action via Federal Agencies. Also the timing isn't 30 seconds -- anyone out there with a stop watch? The timing should be at least 30 seconds but if anyone timed it, it will be more like fifteen or less depending upon the location.

The one at Peevy timed in just under 15 seconds.

Also, guards can come down but cross traffic can prevent prompt exiting from the crossing. Witness Russell and 301. The lights turn green on the cross traffic almost immediately. "

Linco wrote on Jul 17, 2008 4:08 AM:

" I can recall coming across the tracks, looking both ways, & moving forward, only to find the red lights flashing & the bar coming down right onto my hood. Thank God no one was coming, I had to rush out onto the street to keep from getting hit & stuck. I think there is a serious problem here. "

atl wrote on Jul 16, 2008 9:53 PM:

" To "Duh"

I've never read such dumbness in my life. How was the bands trespassing? Does that mean everybody who crosses the railroad is trespassing? And if you haven't noticed genius, SCSU and Claflin sits directly accross from the railroads and no matter what parade route they choose thru downtown, they still would have to cross the railroad tracks. Should the Orangeburg County Christmas Parade change thier route as well? Also I wasn't aware that there is such a law that exist when it comes to parade routes and railroad crossings. So you mean to tell me that the city of Orangeburg doesnt know the law, since there are the ones who issues permits for parades. Duh, please can you tell me this law that SCSU and Claflin is not "abiding by"?
*being sarcastic* "

duh... wrote on Jul 16, 2008 8:54 PM:

" cherokee,you can check them yourself..The actual time is about 40 seconds but don't take my word for it....By the way, I just went through a safety check with them and they all functioned properly and within regulations. I think you will also find that they did not up their speed. A single locomotive train is only allowed to go 30 mph. More locomotives are only allowed 49. There is more regulation on the railroads than you could ever believe and they are all checked by seperate organizations. And Norfolk Southern will fire you in a minute if you don't abide by them....To many people would like to have a federal job like that. No time for nonsense.... "

cherokee wrote on Jul 16, 2008 3:51 PM:

" Has any State or Federal entity double checked the timing devices for the warning devices on this railroad? About all that has been done by the railroad is give a statement that the timing is proper. Hogwash.

Every since the railroad has upped their speed, there have been plenty of near-misses and no- miss situations. The City of Orangeburg should demand that the timing devices be checked again. "

duh... wrote on Jul 16, 2008 3:44 PM:

" What most people fail to realize is that railroad tracks and the crossings are federal property and owned by the railroad. The city and state can't do a thing about it. All this talk over the train speed limit is moot. Stop blaming the railroad. Look at the crossings. They are all marked and have a 30 second minimum time limit from when the signals are activated and when the train reaches the crossing.If you stop where you're supposed to you won't have that problem. As for the band? They were trespassing on railroad property and the railroad is not liable...It would be a tragedy if they had been struck but maybe SCSU and Claflin need to change their parade routes to abide with the law. "

ok! wrote on Jul 16, 2008 3:23 PM:

" To wargreen1, look maybe you are not looking from the right side of things. People need to pay more attention when approaching r/r crossings, being carefull and protecting themselves. And eliminating the tracks will eliminate many jobs in the Orangeburg area (due to Industries needing the tracks for many deliveries) so then you say raise them, that is more of a expense, higher taxes, and more of an eyesore than they are now and the same as to bury them, do you live in Orangeburg County, do you want higher taxes...... Maybe your ideas could be a safer way, but they are not reasonable.

In my opinion, if one gets struck by an oncoming train, that person is at fault, you should always use caution and never try and beat the train, thats just stupid on that persons fault. "

wagreen1 wrote on Jul 16, 2008 1:24 PM:

" How many more accidents will it take before the city and state get agressive with Norfolk Southern to move, bury or elevate those tracks through downtown Orangeburg. It is a complete eyesore. I guess a high school band has to run for dear life again before something is done. DORA has done a wonderful job but unfortunately the most visible part of the city is a complete eyesore. It want hit home until someone prominent in that community gets hurt or killed on the RAILROAD CORNER. "

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Woman unhurt after train hits car

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