By Laura Wilson, KOAA News 5
TRINIDAD.CO – In the wake of a devastating train crash, that killed five family members in Trinidad, we’re investigating the circumstances that could have led up to the accident and the safety of the crossing where it happened.Steve and Christine Miller were heading northbound with their four daughters, when they were hit by an Amtrak train, heading westbound.
Their four-year-old daughter, Heidi, was the only surviving passenger.
“For it to be a whole family, it’s just beyond sad,’ said Trinidad resident Denise Madrid.
Denise and her husband, Pablo, say as soon as they heard about the accident, they immediately thought of the railroad crossing, at Las Animas County Road.
“the views are completely obstructed by all the trees and the overgrown brush and everything,” they explained.
“You can’t see unless you’re literally right on the tracks. you have to stop and watch because if you come flying through there, you’re never going to see it coming,” the couple added.
A railroad crossing sign is displayed on both sides of the tracks, but residents say that’s not enough.
They’d like to see flashing lights or a railroad gate.
“It could have possibly saved the lives that were lost yesterday. And–maybe my friend, Carl, that passed away may have be saved too,” said Trinidad resident Tom Jones.
Veltri was killed by an Amtrak train at that same crossing back in 2010.
Since 1986, there have been four additional crashes–all but one involving some level of injury.
the Colorado Department of Transportation tells us that it is going through the process needed for improvements, after the crossing was identified as a problem back in 2013.
The crossing is scheduled for gates with flashing lights, which could be done within a year.
In the meantime, residents tell us they’ll continue to take extra precautions in the area.
“It doesn’t matter where I’m heading. if i go anywhere near these tracks, I’m coming to a complete stop, because you can’t see anything,’ said Jones.
The FAA tells us that in five crashes at this crossing, the vehicles were moving over the tracks–not stalled or stopped.
CDOT says its improvement project still needs county approval.
Then it goes to the Public Utilities Commission, and they will give the railroad “notice to proceed.”
Source: CDOT identifies deadly Trinidad RR crossing as ‘problem area’
