Until recently, the rule when approaching a railroad crossing was “stop, look, and listen.” The stop signs were replaced with “yield” signs. As a driver of a motor vehicle, you are required to yield to the train.
Around 12:20 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, the 67-year-old male driver of a Chevrolet Trailblazer LS drove across un-signaled railroad crossing 732 680 U MP F178.27, located on East Pine Street, directly in the path of a slow-moving local freight train. The pilot, handrails, and steps of Georgia Southern Railroad Company locomotive #1816 struck the driver’s door of the SUV, spinning it around and off the roadway. The driver of the vehicle was treated by EMS and transported to the airport and flown to Augusta University Medical Center.
Swainsboro Firefighters on Squad 1 and Swainsboro Police responded to the crash. Georgia State Patrol conducted the investigation.
