Express train hits painter

A worker painting a fence along a railway was killed when he stepped in front of an express train. He was part of a crew painting the fence located at a rail crossing barrier. The crossing was located about 165 feet (50 meters) from a station. Trains stopping at the station could be seen from the crossing. The crew was working without having posted a guard to watch for trains. When one worker finished his part of fence painting, he crossed the track to help another finish up. A train had arrived at the station and the alarm signal and crossing barrier began to operate. However, the worker ducked under the barrier and went into the crossing. He was hit by an express train approaching from the opposite direction.

Many rail crossing fatalities happen when a pedestrian or motorist ignores a signal or bypasses a barrier. The person may see one train at a distance, and not see another approaching on a different track. Work such as this requires assigning a lookout and planning how to do the job safely.