Sheriff asks drivers to exercise patience around train intersections

TOLONO, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign County Sheriff is asking residents to be more aware of their surroundings.

Late last week, a 40-year-old woman from Philo was waiting at a stop sign on 900 North and US 45. Her 2014 dodge charger was hit from behind by an oncoming train.

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"It's very important that you're cognizant about what's in front of you." Champaign County Sherrif Dustin Heuerman said. "Can you get off the railroad tracks before a train comes?"

She believed she was far enough out from the tracks, but the back of her car was still within range. That's because trains overhang the width of the tracks, they're on sometimes by as much as four feet on each side.

The driver pulled up past the tracks, so there were no warning lights to stop her. By the time she realized what was happening, she had nowhere to go. According to one eyewitness, she saw parts of the car flying when it was hit.

"So, it's really important that if you think you don't have enough room, that you stay behind the railroad tracks just in case something happens," Heuerman said. "That may seem a little bit inconvenient because then if a train comes, I want to get past there before I have to wait on the train. But then an incident this morning where somebody wasn't as forward as they thought they were, and then they end up getting hit by a train. You don't want that to happen either."

He also says the majority of train versus car accidents happen differently than todays. It usually comes when people don't look both ways before crossing the tracks, especially when they don't have flashing lights.

The woman involved in Friday's crash was the only one in the car. She was taken to a hospital nearby but had no obvious injuries.