A bicyclist was struck by a train near Fort Street in Plaquemine Friday evening, suffering severe injuries that sent them to a local hospital. The collision prompted officials to temporarily shut down nearly all railroad crossings within the city limits as emergency crews responded.
Plaquemine Police Chief Stephen Engolio confirmed the bicyclist's injuries and said the train was clear of the tracks by around 10 p.m., according to WBRZ. The outlet reported that the crossing closures affected nearly the entire city while officials worked the scene near Fort Street.
Details on what led up to the collision, including whether any warning devices were active at the time, have not been released. The bicyclist's identity and current condition also have not been made public.
A City With a Painful History at the Rails
Friday's crash echoes a tragedy in Plaquemine from several years earlier. On Aug. 25, 2022, a 24-year-old Plaquemine man died after being hit by a train on tracks paralleling Louisiana 1 near the parish line between West Baton Rouge and Iberville, according to Unfiltered with Kiran. That collision happened around 4:45 p.m., and the man was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries before he died there, the outlet reported.
It is not clear whether Friday's incident occurred at the same crossing or involved the same railroad. The circumstances of each case, including the cause of the collision and whether any citations were issued, remain separate matters that have not been detailed publicly.
Bicycle Safety Remains a Statewide Concern
The Plaquemine crash lands amid broader worries about cyclist safety on Louisiana roads and rail corridors. The state recorded 40 bicycle fatalities and 814 bicycle injuries in 2025, according to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. The commission also estimated that about 5% of those bicycle fatalities involved alcohol.
Railroad crossing access for pedestrians and cyclists has drawn scrutiny from state researchers as well. A study by the Louisiana Transportation Research Center found that lack of access for pedestrians and cyclists passing crossings was a notable concern among respondents, though only about a third supported closing crossings outright as a solution.
No further details on the Plaquemine bicyclist's condition or the investigation into Friday's collision have been released.
