Three people were injured Tuesday evening after a train struck their vehicle in southwest Bexar County, turning a quiet stretch of road into an active crash scene. Deputies and rescue crews responded just before 7 p.m. to the 12000 block of Macdona Lacoste Road near Wisdom Road, where emergency personnel found the wreckage. Authorities initially described all three injuries as life threatening, then later said two had been downgraded to non life threatening while one person remained in critical condition. Officials said the three were believed to be the only occupants of the vehicle.
BCSO updates
As reported by KSAT, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said deputies arrived at the crash site just before 7 p.m. and confirmed that the three people in the vehicle were believed to be the only occupants. The sheriff’s office first told reporters that all three had life threatening injuries, then issued an update stating that two had been downgraded to injured but non life threatening while one person was still listed in critical condition. Officials said no additional details were immediately available.
Rail safety concerns
Local rail safety advocates say a collision like Tuesday’s feeds into a troubling pattern around San Antonio. As reported by Fox San Antonio, Texas Operation Lifesaver notes that nationally someone or a vehicle is struck by a train roughly every three hours, and the group’s overview shows Bexar County recorded about 50 rail incidents over the past three years. Advocates told reporters that stronger public education around crossings and clearer warnings at rural crossings are key to reducing crashes in freight heavy corridors.
Macdona's rail history
The Macdona corridor has seen major rail emergencies before, something longtime residents remember whenever sirens head toward the tracks. The San Antonio Express-News reported on a 2004 derailment near Macdona that released chlorine gas, killed four people and injured dozens, an episode that led to federal cleanup work and long running safety discussions in southwest Bexar County. That history is part of why local officials and neighbors say they treat any train vehicle collision in the area very seriously.
What’s next
Investigators remained at the scene Tuesday night, and county authorities had not yet released the names of the injured. As reported by KSAT, emergency crews were still working the crash site when reporters arrived, and officials said more information would be released as it becomes available. This story will be updated as Bexar County authorities share additional details and investigators release their findings.
