Safeguards installed at Kelso rail crossing where 3 died
Emergency personnel transport an injured passenger to an ambulance from the shuttle vehicle which was hit by a northbound train at a private crossing at the Longview Junction near the Harry Morgan Bridge in Kelso in March, 2011.
Originally published January 5, 2012 at 6:57 a.m., updated January 5, 2012 at 12:19 p.m.
KELSO — BNSF Railway says automatic flashing lights and crossing gates have been installed at a rail crossing where three people died last March when a freight train struck their van.
The Daily News of Longview also reports that the Federal Railroad Administration's investigation into the crash should be ready for public release in the next two months.
Killed in the crash at the Kelso train yard were Coach America shuttle van driver Steven Sebastian of Castle Rock and BNSF employees Tom Kenny of Shoreline and Christopher Loehr -- a Skyview High School graduate -- who lived in Seattle. A third railroad employee, Dwight Hauck of Auburn, was injured.
State officials say a parked train would have made it difficult for the driver to see the Seattle-bound train that struck the van.
More like this
New rail safeguards where 3 died in Wash.
