A CSX freight train struck a car early Thursday morning near a private railroad crossing at Todds Lane in Rosedale, Baltimore County, in the latest scare along a troubled stretch of track. No injuries to the train crew were reported, and officials say the cause of the collision remains under investigation.
According to CBS Baltimore, the train came into contact with the vehicle at about 7:30 a.m. at the Todds Lane crossing. The outlet reported that no members of the train crew were hurt and noted there were no immediate details on the condition or even the number of people who might have been inside the car.
Dangerous Stretch With Repeated Collisions
Federal records and local reporting point to a long history of vehicle and train collisions along roughly two miles of CSX track running through Rosedale. WBAL reviewed Federal Railroad Administration data and found 43 crashes since 1975 at five crossings in that corridor. The station reported that Maryland officials have been seeking federal grants for years to install gates, lights, and other safety upgrades at those spots.
Recent Similar Incidents
The Thursday crash fits an unsettling pattern. In May 2023, a CSX train collided with a semi at a Lake Drive crossing about two miles from the Todds Lane site. CBS Baltimore reported that the train dragged the truck roughly 1,000 feet and that the truck driver was hospitalized afterward. That high-profile crash, along with others in the corridor, fueled renewed demands from residents and safety officials for active protections such as gates and warning signals.
2013 Derailment and NTSB Findings
The corridor’s most notorious crash came in May 2013 at the Lake Drive crossing, when a collision triggered a chemical release, fire, and explosion that damaged nearby buildings. The National Transportation Safety Board’s final report found the probable cause was the truck driver’s failure to ensure the tracks were clear. The NTSB also cited distraction and limited sight distance caused by vegetation as contributing factors. The report documented the derailment and emergency response and recommended better visibility and upgraded warning systems at private crossings. NTSB
Residents Say Crossings Lack Protections
Residents have long argued that several private crossings along the corridor are accidents waiting to happen, pointing to the lack of gates, flashing signals, or clear signage, as well as overgrown brush that can block drivers’ views. Reporting from Patch described faded stop signs and crossings without any active warnings, while state officials continued to chase federal money for upgrades.
CSX and local authorities say investigations into Thursday’s collision are ongoing and have not released a timeline for findings. Maryland transportation officials have been pursuing federal grants to install gates, lights, and bells at private crossings in Rosedale, a plan WBAL reported could cover multiple crossings and pay for both interim fixes and longer-term solutions.
