Cause of fatal accident involving train remains unknown

There still is no explanation for why a Sikeston, Missouri, man was killed when a train collided with a pickup truck he was riding in Monday.

At 10:25 a.m. Monday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to a call at train tracks crossing County Road 432 west of U.S. 61 in Scott County, according to a highway patrol online crash report. Boby Long, 55, was driving a 2005 Ford F350 truck that was hit by a BNSF train. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"He pulled up to the crossing, did not see the train on the tracks and hit the brakes at the last minute," said patrol Sgt. Clark Parrott, Troop E's public information officer.

Scott County Coroner Scott Amick went to the accident scene. While he did not pronounce Long dead, Amick said he believes Long died on impact after being struck by the train and said the crossing was at the top of an embankment. After the vehicle was hit, it rolled down the hill into the embankment.

"You just kind of have to wonder what happened there," Amick said. "He definitely had a good view. I don't know if maybe he was distracted and didn't realize his truck was rolling onto the track or what."

Amick said the crossing was on a straight stretch of track with no visual obstructions on either side. The railroad signal at that crossing was a sign only.

Cape Girardeau attorney J. Michael Ponder has a history of working with train-accident victims. He's researched BNSF railroad and its protocols, and he visited the scene of Monday's accident.

"The visibility was limited beyond what is reasonable if you cross the tracks," he said. "There are significant areas of foliage that are probably closer to the crossing than statutory limit allows. ... I can see how a train could sneak up on you."

Ponder has not been contacted by Long's family about his accident. He said simply took a personal interest in the case.

Long was an employee of the Scott County Highway Department. According to Scott County's website, he worked for the highway department for 11 years.

He was out on a service call to look at a county-owned tractor when the accident occurred, Scott County presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger said.

The truck Long was driving was a county-owned vehicle with an automatic transmission, said Norman Brant, supervisor of the county highway department, which rules out the possibility of a manual-transmission truck stalling out on the tracks.

Brant said he was unaware of any illnesses Long might have had, and he always showed up to work and appeared to be the picture of health.

The crash was considered an accident, Parrott said. No tickets were issued.

"When you see train tracks, you need to be thinking train," Parrott said. "I always encourage people when crossing a train tracks to think that way because you just don't know their schedule."

The major crash team is investigating the accident and will create a report that will be available upon request in 30 to 45 days, he said.

"I have a strong suspicion that BNSF does not invest in Southeast Missouri like they do in the cities," Ponder said. "It's no surprise, unfortunately, with a crossing constructed in this manner. Many, many Southeast Missouri crossings are without proper signals."

smaue@semissourian.com

388-3644

Pertinent address:

County Road 432, Scott County, Missouri