Hawkins Crossing just north of Meridian on Hwy. 11/80 is one of the most dangerous railroad crossings in Lauderdale County mainly because there is so much industrial and business traffic going back and forth.
It was no wonder then authorities from the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT), Norfolk-Southern Railroad, AmTrak, the Meridian Department of Homeland Security and the Meridian Police Department were braving the hot and steamy morning Tuesday. They were there, according to Kim Sloan, who is the executive director for Operation Lifesaver, to inform and educate motorists who frequent the area about railway safety.
Operation Lifesaver is a non-profit, international continuing public education program first established in 1972 to end collisions, deaths and injuries at places where roadways cross train tracks, and on railroad rights-of-way.
"We are trying to boost the awareness for these motorists," Sloan said. "So many times when people use a particular crossing on a regular basis they become complacent. That can be very dangerous."
Dangerous indeed.
This crossing area was the scene of a train/truck collision several months ago. The driver survived but it was a close call nonetheless. MDOT Rails Inspector Daniel Johnson has worked a great many train/vehicle accidents both here in Meridian and elsewhere in the state. He said at this location AmTrak passenger trains are cleared to travel up to 75 mph with freight trains coming into the city at around 55 mph.
"A train can't stop on a dime," said Johnson. "The state of Mississippi is just two more collisions away from moving into the top ten states in the country in terms of the number of train/vehicle accidents. That is a top ten we don't want to be in."
According to stats compiled by the Federal Railroad Administration, Iowa has reported 71 collisions so far this year to Mississippi's 69.
At the same time the Hawkins Crossing authorities were handing out booklets and answering quick questions from the motorists who came by during the two hour period, other teams at other railway crossing locations around Lauderdale County were doing the same.
"We just want everyone to be safe and very respectful of crossings," Sloan said. "If we save one life, then it is worth it. But we want to save everyone because we believe these accidents are very preventable."
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