Kansas City Southern Railway Co. is willing to meet with Ogden, Ark., representatives and the highway department to discuss improving safety at the Pine Street crossing where two people were recently killed.
The fatal collision happened about 5:30 p.m. Jan. 21 where the railroad tracks cross Pine Street on the north side of Ogden in Little River County.
Bobby Burris, 37, and Braiden Miller, 10, both of Ogden, were killed in the collision, and a third person was critically injured.
Braiden was pronounced dead at the scene by Little River County Coroner Roddy Smith, who also pronounced Burris dead in Little River Memorial Hospital's emergency room in Ashdown, Ark. The driver of the 2007 Hyundai, Linda Hobbs, 66, of Ogden was critically injured and taken to CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System in Texarkana, Texas.
Hobbs is still listed in critical condition in the hospital's intensive care unit, said Arkansas State Police Sgt. Robert Wilson.
The car was eastbound on Pine Street when it collided with the northbound train. Police reports stated the road was wet from rain, and the train was traveling faster than 50 mph, Wilson said.
"The conductor (John H. Lee of Shreveport, La.) said the speed was 53 mph at the time of the collision," he said.
Friday afternoon, Wilson and the conductor reviewed the video recorded by train's camera.
"Everything was working and done like a textbook. There was no fault on the train. The lights, horns and bells were working. All the equipment was working properly as required by federal regulations," Wilson said.
He also intends to interview Hobbs to determine if she was the driver of the car.
"I'm 99 percent sure she was the operator, but I would like to hear it from her mouth. The coroner mentioned Burris had a mark on his right upper chest like a seatbelt mark for a passenger seat," Wilson said.
He also said no citation will be issued. "The report will show it was her inattentive driving which caused the collision," Wilson said.
The Texarkana Gazette contacted KCS for statements about the intersection.
The following statement was issued by C. Doniele Carlson, vice president corporate communications and community affairs.
"The Pine Street crossing where the collision occurred has two warning signs-an advance warning sign indicating there is a railroad crossing ahead, and a warning sign at the crossing which includes a crossbuck and a yield sign.
"Whether or not a railroad crossing has other warning devices like flashers and gates is at the discretion of the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department.
"KCS is willing to meet with representatives of the city and the state highway department to discuss this crossing. Should the highway department decide that gates or flashers should be installed at the crossing, KCS would work with the department to design and install them," Carlson said in the statement.
Ogden Mayor Sandra Furlow said about three years ago, the Pine Street crossing was discussed by Ogden officials, County Judge Clayton Castleman, KCS representatives and highway department officials.
"They were good guys. They discussed the crossing, but we were low priority because of the small population," Furlow said.
"We intend to pursue another meeting. All we can do is try," she said.