An early morning collision between a train and a car in north St. Louis County, Missouri, resulted in the death of the driver, a 35-year-old woman from St. Louis. KSDK reports that the accident occurred just before 3:30 a.m. yesterday near the intersection of James S. McDonnell Boulevard and Banshee Road, in Berkeley.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is currently investigating the factors leading to the tragedy. Preliminary findings suggest that the vehicle went off the roadway, becoming trapped in the gravel alongside the tracks, however, the reason why the driver remained in the car instead of evacuating is not immediately clear. A spokesperson from MSHP communicated to FOX 2 that the train sounded alarms, but the vehicle did not move from the path of the oncoming train.
The identity of the woman has been withheld pending notification of her family. An official statement obtained by FirstAlert4 indicates that it is yet to be determined whether the cause of death was the impact of the tram collision or a medical emergency experienced by the driver before the event.
This is not the first instance of vehicle-train collisions in the region. The frequency of such occurrences raises questions on roadway safety measures and, the adequacy of barriers around train tracks. Updates on the investigation, including any potential safety reviews, are promised to be forthcoming. FOX 2 has indicated that more information will be provided as the story develops.
