Stone County officials urging caution at stop signs following deadly train accidents
STONE COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV) — In the wake of a deadly train accident in Stone County that claimed the lives of five people on March 27th, county officials are urging residents to use extra caution when crossing the tracks.
This includes coroner Wayne Flurry, who has begun taking a more cautious approach to railroad crossings himself.
“Sometimes when you’re approaching, you take a quick glance, and you can miss things that are right in front of you,” Flurry said. “So, it is important for us to recognize the stop signs are there for a reason.”
Many railroad crossings within the county are marked with stop signs, but few have lights or crossing arms to alert drivers when a train is actively approaching. The Pump Branch Road crossing is one such area, and it has been the site of three fatal accidents within the past year.
As a result, concerns among law enforcement leaders who have worked these tragic scenes have grown in the past few months. When speaking to WXXV following a crash in late February, Stone County Sheriff Todd Stewart emphasized the importance of obeying standard stop sign laws, even when it seems like no trains or other cars are around.
“You need to slow down, stop in most cases, cause if it is a posted stop sign, you are required to stop before crossing over the tracks,” Stewart explained.
Pump Branch Road is set to receive some additional safety features, according to a statement issued to WXXV by the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
“MDOT is currently awaiting an estimate from the railroad company for this project, which should be received in the coming weeks,” the department wrote in its statement. “Once MDOT receives the estimate, we will authorize funding for the construction phase and issue a notice to proceed for the railroad to begin the installation of flashing lights and gates. The railroad will then perform the work according to their schedule.”
Though these additions are coming, Flurry’s plea remains: obey stop sign laws everywhere, no matter what.
“I know everybody has emergencies from time to time, but don’t create another one by not paying attention and not adhering to a stop sign — not just at a railroad crossing, but at an intersection or wherever you come to.”
