An 80-year-old driver in Beverly collided with a train after driving around railroad crossing barriers, according to local authorities. The incident, which occurred at the Hale Street Crossing, involved a 2020 Camry that was struck by an MBTA commuter train. The preliminary investigation by police suggested that the driver ignored the flashing lights and an audible alarm before maneuvering around the crossing gate.

 

Preliminary Investigation suggests at the Hale Street Crossing in Beverly an 80y/o driver of a 2020 Camry ignored the flashing lights, audible alarm & drove around crossing gate onto tracks and was struck by #MBTA CR train. Driver transported to hospital unknown injury. pic.twitter.com/CyEoxbtk97

— MBTA Transit Police (@MBTATransitPD) April 17, 2024

 

Details provided by the MBTA Transit Police's X account indicated that the train could not avoid striking the vehicle on the tracks. After the collision, the elderly driver was transported to a local hospital with injuries of unknown severity. There was no immediate information regarding the condition of train passengers or any potential disruptions to train service following the accident.

The incident has raised concerns about driving safety, especially among the elderly, and highlights the dangers of ignoring railroad crossing signals. As the investigation continues, police have not released the identity of the driver involved in the collision. Rail safety advocates frequently emphasize the importance of heeding crossing warnings to prevent such dangerous encounters.

The accident at the Hale Street Crossing serves as a grim reminder of the perils that can arise at train crossings. Both drivers and pedestrians are urged by safety officials to always follow the signals at railroad crossings to avoid the risk of injury or death. As officials investigate the specifics of this case, additional details may shed light on why the driver failed to adhere to the safety measures in place.