Efland Police Determine Cause for Fatal Train Accident

Recently, my colleague, Jim Lewis, wrote an article about a fatal train accident that occurred in Efland, North Carolina (NC). A young woman and her 4-year old son were killed in that accident, and the woman’s infant daughter was seriously injured.

The Efland Police Department has been looking in to what led up to the death of Erin Lindsay-Calkins and her son. They’ve determined that the glare from the sun holds the most blame in this tragic case. According to a witness who lives by the train tracks in Efland, David Lee, “You're basically staring into the sun, and the way the [warning] lights are turned, you still can't see them because the sun is right in your face."

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is now investigating the accident themselves, and North Carolina (NC) officials have admitted that this tragic accident sheds a light on unsafe railroad crossings in the state. Currently, North Carolina is one of the 15 most dangerous states for railroad crossings.

Driving in to the sun can be extremely dangerous, especially near train tracks. The sun often blinds the driver; preventing them from being able to see if train warning lights are activated. There are a few measures you can take to improve your daytime vision. Be sure to wear sunglasses that properly shield from the rays of the sun anytime you are driving. You can also utilize your car’s sun visor. However, if you feel that the sun is blocking most of your vision, it is safer to pull over or drive against the glare of the sun.

 

AC