One person has passed away following a crash involving an Amtrak train and a car along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
The Gautier Police Department confirms that the accident took place on Thursday, around 8:15 p.m. at the railroad crossing on Ladnier Rd. The victim was identified as Tavares Johnson, 29, who was ejected from his vehicle and pronounced deceased at the wreck site.
Witnesses told police that the crossing barrier was down and that Johnson tried to maneuver through it when the collision occurred. The train was hauling roughly 55 passengers, none of whom were reported to have suffered any injuries. After a delay just shy of five hours, the train continued to its New Orleans destination.
Thursday’s incident marked the third death from a crash involving an Amtrak train on the Mississippi Gulf Coast since the passenger service returned to the region in August. In late September, two people were killed in a collision in Pass Christian.
“According to the Federal Railroad Administration, railroad crossing incidents are the second leading cause of rail-related deaths in America. These incidents can affect everyone involved — those who are injured or die and their families, our train crews, and our passengers,” a statement from Amtrak reads. “They also serve as critical reminders about the importance of obeying the law and of exercising extreme caution around railroad tracks and crossings.”
Amtrak is working with local law enforcement to assess the crash. The company is also working to end tragedies involving its trains by promoting safe driving along rail crossings.
