Road to Blame in Car-Train Collision?

Oakland City Police Chief Alec Hensley stood at the intersection of the towns busy Norfolk Souther railroad tracks and Harrison Street watching cars cross the rails wondering why that particular stretch of road causes so many headaches. "For some reason, there are drivers having a problem making that turn," Hensley said. The turn hes referring to is the left hand turn on to Harrison from Jackson Street. The two streets intersect at a four way stop, and the rails bisect at a diagonal, crossing the north bound Jackson and west bound Harrison. That layout creates a triangle shaped drop off, bounded by the intersection and rails. The hole has swallowed up its share of motorists, including a city police car, according to Chief Hensley. In the past, drivers reported blown out tires, dented rims, and other repairable problems. "Theyre taking the turn too wide," said Hensley. A wide turn here can translate into a costly repair. For Princeton hospice nurse Jennifer Dewig Heavrin, it nearly cost her life. Heavrin was returning home after visiting a patient in Oakland City Friday when she turned on to Harrison. Her PT Cruiser fell in to the drop off and became stuck. She tried to rock the low profile car back and forth to free it, but had no success. A loaded coal train rounded the corner and struck the car as she tried to get out. Heavrin remains in fair condition at St. Marys Medical Center in Evansville with what family members call very serious and life threatening injuries. Could Heavrins injuries have been prevented? Her family and several Oakland City drivers think so. Police Chief Hensley says the city has explored several options, so of which, theyve concluded, may actually make the crossing more dangerous. Filling in the drop off with pavement would cause drivers making right turns on to Harrison to undercut the turn, says Hensley, putting them at risk of falling on to the rails. A curb or barrier would be hit by passing trains. The solution, which is currently being explored with Norfolk Southern, might be better markings at the edge of the drop off. Hensley says the city is working with its street department and the railroad to put low level reflectors along the edge of the road. So long as drivers make wide left turns, it may be the only option to keep them safe at this crossing. "I guess we can try that and see if it works," said Hensley.