Two dead in van-train collision in Illinois

Two dead in van-train collision in Illinois

UTU local president killed, member injured in unregistered van

CERRO GORDO -- Investigators are saying they may never know why the driver of an unregulated van shuttling three railroad workers pulled into the path of a Norfolk Southern train traveling at 60 mph near Cerro Gordo Thursday morning.

The only thing they do know is that two people are dead – including a well-respected UTU local president -- another is in very serious condition, and the fourth is recovering in the hospital.

According to UTU news reports, since June 1996 at least nine people have been killed and more injured being transported by unregistered van services working for railroads. UTU members have complained in Illinois and elsewhere about over-tired van drivers and unsafe vehicles being used to transport them. In a conference call last week with Linda Morgan, chairperson of the Surface Transportation Board, UTU leaders told her about problems with crew transportation and safety.

"Too many good people are getting killed and hurt being transported in unregulated vans used by the railroads," said Charles L. Little, UTU International President. "These people never would have been put in harm’s way if Norfolk Southern wasn’t mired in service problems caused by the Conrail takeover."

Gerry T. Bradshaw, 49, president of UTU Local 768 and a conductor for 29 years on Norfolk Southern, was declared dead at the scene. Also killed was van driver Carol Miller, 55, of Decatur. Bradshaw, of Decatur, was a passenger in the van traveling with a yard crew to take a stopped train, whose crew had expired under the hours of service, into Decatur.

Two other passengers, J. H. Irby, 28, of Decatur and a member of Local 768, and Gary K. Martin, 50, of Oakley were taken by ambulance to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. Late Thursday, Martin, a locomotive engineer, was listed in critical condition; Irby was in fair condition. Both men are train and engine personnel for Norfolk Southern.

The exact speed the train was traveling was unknown, but it was a "triple crown" and typically travels about 60 mph. The accident happened at a crossbuck crossing with no active warning devices. One report said that the crossing may have been obscured because of excess brush.

Illinois State Police said the van driven by Miller was northbound on Piatt County Road 200 East and stopped at the railroad tracks north of Illinois 105 at about 9 a.m. Miller then apparently pulled the van onto the tracks and was struck by an eastbound Norfolk Southern train.

The van, which was delivering a relief crew to a stopped westbound Norfolk Southern train, traveled approximately 145 feet before coming to rest.

Miller was an employee of Milepost Industries, a shuttle service that transports relief crews to trains. One NS officer said there "have been concerns about Milepost."

"The best we can tell, the van pulled up on the track and the eastbound train caught it," said Assistant Chief Garry Zackery of the Cerro Gordo Fire Department.

Though the crossing is not equipped with warning lights or gates, there have been only two accidents there in almost 30 years -- one in 1970 and one in 1990 -- and neither resulted in injuries, said Beth Bosch of the Illinois Commerce Commission.