A driver is dead after a train slammed into a vehicle near Cotton Crossing and Grand Avenue in Peoria on Sunday morning, in a crash that authorities believe was intentional. Cotton Crossing remains closed in both directions as the investigation continues, while Grand Avenue stays open with some traffic restrictions in place.
Police were sent to the scene near Cotton Crossing and Grand Avenue on Sunday morning, according to 12News. Initial information indicated that a train had hit a vehicle that was on the railroad tracks, and Peoria police later confirmed that the driver of the vehicle died as a result of the crash.
Investigators Believe the Crash Was Intentional
Based on an initial review, authorities believe the incident was intentional, though the station's report does not detail what led investigators to that conclusion. The investigation remains ongoing, and no further details about the driver have been released.
Anyone seeking updates on the case can check the Peoria Police Department’s online incident map, while information on the medical examiner’s review of the case can be tracked through the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s case status portal.
Road Closures Still in Effect
Cotton Crossing is closed in both directions as crews and investigators work the scene, per the same report. Grand Avenue remains open to traffic, though drivers should expect some restrictions in the area.
This is not the first fatal train incident reported at this same Peoria intersection. In an earlier case, ABC15 reported that an adult man was struck and killed by a train near Cotton Crossing and Grand Avenue while walking along the tracks, with police saying the conductor activated the train’s horn but could not stop in time. That earlier crash also forced the closure of nearby Grand Avenue in both directions after the train blocked the intersection.
Highway-rail grade crossing collisions like Sunday’s are tracked nationally, with railroads required to report all impacts between on-track equipment and highway users to the Federal Railroad Administration, according to data.transportation.gov. For now, Peoria police have not released additional information about Sunday’s driver or the circumstances that led them to describe the crash as intentional, and the investigation remains active.
