INDOT: Plan in the works to make Wabash railroad crossings safer

WABASH, Ind. (WANE)--A collision between a train and an SUV killed a man in Wabash Thursday.  Both neighbors and Wabash police said there should be cross arms at that intersection.  But the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has a plan in the works to make the small town safer by consolidating crossings.

Police said Thursday morning, Luther Steele Jr., 63, was traveling northbound on Fisher Street in Wabash.  The train's conductor said for an unknown reason, Steele's blue Chevy Blazer began to cross the tracks when it was too late.  Steele was pronounced dead at the scene.

INDOT leaders said there are 13 railroad crossings in the small town of Wabash.  Not all have cross arms when a train goes by, since the cross arms can cost about $250,000 each.        

Though neighbors and police are calling for crossing arms at every Wabash crossing, Jessica Feder, executive director of Indiana Operation Lifesaver (a non-profit organization that educates the public on rail safety), doesn't think cross arms are best solution.

“We have so many miles of track.  We have so many crossings.  We need to do a better job in drivers ed and educating the public on making sure that they are aware and paying attention, Feder said.  “The city of Wabash could look into closing some of those crossings obviously because if you can't go through it, you're not going to get hit.”

INDOT agrees with Feder.  Mary Foster, media relations for INDOT, said at least half of all vehicle/ train crashes in Indiana happen at intersections that already have the cross arms.  INDOT is putting together a plan to encourage the Wabash city council to consolidate crossings, and upgrade the rest.

“Consolidation is actually a good thing, because it removes the number of crossings,” Feder said.  “The safest crossing is one that's closed.”

The state already pays for about 20 to 25 railroad crossing upgrades a year based on the number of trains, vehicles, and visibility at the crossings through state and federal funds.

“It’s in everybody’s interest to make safe crossings,” Feder said.  “When there’s an incident like what happened in Wabash Thursday, it’s a huge toll.”