The 14th Avenue West crossing reveals a stunning lack of cautionary pedestrian and traffic safety measures
Local News
63-year-old Beulah Bell, of Cordele, was struck and killed by a Norfolk Southern train while walking near her home at the 14th Avenue West railroad crossing Tuesday morning, June 2, 2014.
The Cordele Dispatch reports, Beulah Bell was walking eastbound on 14th Avenue West when she was struck by a 5-engine Norfolk Southern train. Ms. Bell perished from blunt force trauma injuries during the crash. Police are now investigating the tragedy.
Public information officer Sgt. Jeremy Taylor told media, “From what we can understand, the engineer was doing everything he could to avoid striking the victim as he was blowing the horn and slowing the train as best he could.”
Our Legal Take
The engineer’s reported inability to signal Ms. Bell and stop the train upon seeing a pedestrian, despite his best efforts, raises serious concerns over a potentially catastrophic equipment malfunction. Equally as alarming, are the lack of safety measures at the railroad crossing, particularly as this is the second serious Cordele train accident in 16 months.
How fast was the train traveling as it approached the crossing? Was this speed in accordance with Federal Railroad Administration safety standards for a residential crossing?
Why was the engineer unable to stop despite repeated attempts? Did the emergency brakes or horns falter due to a mechanical malfunction? When was the train’s emergency stop system last inspected?
A Cordele train accident left a man critically injured only 16 months ago. What have the town and railroad companies done to improve train and railway safety since that time? Photographs show a stunning lack of visual and auditory cautionary measures at the 14th Avenue West crossing. Why did the railroad fail to install cautionary lighting, bells, fencing, and traffic arms?
A tree blocks the pedestrian line of sight at the 14th Avenue West railroad crossing. Where are the caution signals?
As the details of this tragedy continue to emerge, the family of Beulah Bell may elect to hold the train owner and operator civilly liable in her wrongful death. Further claims may also be filed against the manufacturer, should a catastrophic malfunction of the braking system have contributed to this accident. Total claims may be in the millions of dollars and, while compensation is of little concern to a grieving family, claims of this magnitude will demand all railroad companies utilizing this area finally make pedestrian safety their first priority. Through the addition of proper visual and auditory signals, pedestrian fences, traffic arms and frequent mechanical maintenance and inspections, many other lives may be spared.
It is crucial that the Bell family retain an experienced personal injury firm as soon as practicable to ensure their best interests are protected. Photographs and an unbiased inspection of the train, tracks and crossing will need to be obtained immediately before evidence may be repaired or destroyed.
The Murray Law Firm works tirelessly to protect victims and families devastated by catastrophic train accidents, such as this, and we offer our legal expertise to the family of Beulah Bell, if needed. Anyone seeking further information on the fatal Cordele train accident is encouraged to contact The Murray Law Firm toll free at 888.842.1616.