Martin Co., Texas - News: Stanton Fatality Sparks Concern ========================================================= Submitted to the Martin County, TXGenWeb by: Michelle White ========================================================= STANTON TRAIN CROSSING FATALITY SPARKS CONCERN STANTON - Residents and city leaders Friday were searching for answers one day after a man was killed in a train accident in Stanton. Police said Ray Mitchell Hammock of Stanton was killed when his 1988 four-door Lincoln collided with a Union Pacific train traveling approximately 65 mph. The fatal accident occurred about 7:25 p.m. at the intersection of St. Boniface and Interstate 20, which currently is without any railroad signage, lights or railroad gates, also known as railroad cross bars. Stanton Police Chief Michael Adams said Hammock was traveling north on St. Boniface when his car was struck by the east-bound train. Hammock was the only person in the vehicle and there reportedly were no injuries among the train's passengers. Adams said Thursday's deadly wreak was the third fatal accident to occur within the city limits since Christmas Eve. Stanton Mayor Lester Baker said the city has been talking for three years to railroad and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials about placing cross bars at all five of the city's railroad crossings. What really brought the issue of safety to the forefront was the increase of the trains' speed limit to 70 mph, a gradual change that occurred in the last 12 months, Baker added. Stanton City Manager Danny Fryar said three of the five crossings in the city have been completed. Fryar said from the time TxDOT sent the city notification, which was in June 2005, the process to complete the installation of the railroad cross arms is supposed to take 16 months. The St. Boniface crossing is now in its 13th month and "I visited with the railroad this morning and the work order is ready to be submitted to start the work. They said it was on their desk," Fryar said. Fryar added that the city requested a rush order for the St. Boniface crossing and the railroad company's response was the work order was ready to be submitted. Glen Larum, spokesman for TxDOT Odessa district, said funding for railroad improvements is supplied by the federal government through TxDOT, which drafts the plans while the railroad companies install the materials. TxDOT's Odessa district oversees 12 West Texas counties, including Martin County where Stanton is located. Because of the limited amount of funds, the installation of the cross arms are prioritized across the state, which has about 12,000 railroad crossings, Larum said. The railroad site, where Thursday's accident occurred, is scheduled to receive cross arms and lights, he said. Larum also said of the state's estimated 12,000 railroad crossings, about half of them have active signs, flashing lights and gates. The other half are either slated for improvements or will be closed. The crossings that are active are reviewed regularly by TxDOT, which considers numerous factors such as the number of school buses at that crossing, volume of traffic and number of accidents, he said. Fryar said funding for the St. Boniface railroad crossing has been completed and funding for the the city's fifth crossing at St. Peter Street is on a priority list to receive funding in May of next year. The St. Peter railroad crossing will take about two and a half years to complete, Fryar added. Midland city officials said it took about two years to complete the installation of the city's 11 railroad crossings. According to records, the process began in February of 2001 for the railroad crossings, which run from Carver Street to Eisenhower Drive. Baker said he is attempting to speed up the St. Peter crossing and had contacted the offices of Texas Speaker of the House Tom Craddick, State Sen. Kel Seliger and U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway Friday morning for assistance. "We're hoping that with their help, maybe we can get some funding to get the crossing guards in on the St. Peter crossing," Baker said. As of Friday afternoon, Baker was awaiting response from the leaders. The news of Thursday's fatal crash has raised safety concerns among many Stanton residents. "I think they need some signals on the crossings and not soon enough," said Rodger Burch, a Stanton resident for 35 years. "It's a shame people pull out in front of trains. I think that some people just get used to traveling that route and don't pay attention if a train's coming through there or not," he said. "It's just like running a stop sign. They think, 'Nobody hit me before.'" Baker concurs the public's safety is a paramount concern. "With a train less than 300 feet from a junior high or elementary, it's a concern," Baker said, referring to schools near the St. Boniface crossing. Adams said Hammock's mother, who lives in Kansas, was notified early Friday morning. The investigation continues and consists of completing diagrams and measurements, which could take days or weeks to finalize. The Stanton Police Department may require assistance from other neighboring law enforcement agencies, like the Midland Police Department, to help them complete the investigation, Adams said. Authorities are also awaiting the results of an autopsy and toxicology report on Hammock requested by Martin County Justice of the Peace Merv Miller. Hammock's body has been transported to Lubbock where the autopsy will be performed. ---