A freight train struck a pickup truck at a railroad crossing on Brownsville Road in Powder Springs on Saturday, killing the driver in a crash Cobb County police are still investigating. Officers say the white truck became stuck on the tracks after the driver went around lowered crossing gates. The train hit the left side of the pickup and pushed it south along the rails until both came to a stop near Lewis Road. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and the collision remains under investigation.
What happened at the Brownsville Road crossing
According to 11Alive, police identified the driver as 26-year-old Diego Lamothe of Marietta. Investigators say Lamothe was driving a white 2000 Toyota Tacoma east on Brownsville Road when he went around the lowered railroad crossing gates and onto the tracks. A Norfolk Southern freight train then struck the left side of the Tacoma. Authorities said passengers on the freight train were not hurt. Emergency crews shut down the area while investigators documented the scene and cleared the wreckage.
Federal safety resources and context
The Federal Railroad Administration offers guidance on staying safe at railroad grade crossings, along with tools for reporting crossings that are blocked or appear to be malfunctioning. Transportation officials frequently warn drivers not to drive around lowered gates because trains need a long distance to stop and the results of a collision can be catastrophic. Safety materials and reporting information are available on the Federal Railroad Administration website.
Investigation and witness appeal
Cobb County police said the crash remains under active investigation and asked anyone who witnessed the collision or has video of it to call the department at 770-499-3987, as reported by 11Alive. Detectives plan to review cellphone recordings and interview witnesses to better understand why the truck was on the tracks. Police have not released additional information about what led up to the collision.
Rail operator safety reminder
Norfolk Southern stresses safety at public railroad crossings and provides contact numbers for reporting problems with crossing gates and other emergencies. The company reminds drivers that they should never go around lowered gates. Rail operators and regulators also advise waiting until gates are fully raised, warning signals stop and the train has completely cleared the crossing before driving through. Residents who have concerns about specific crossings or who want to share video of incidents can contact rail operators or local law enforcement.
As investigators work to reconstruct what happened at the Brownsville Road crossing, Cobb County police are still urging anyone with information to call the department tip line at the number above.
