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Motorist caught on track; Girl, 16, airlifted to Swedish in critical condition
A good Samaritan reportedly tried to push a 16-year-old girl's car out of the path of an oncoming train Tuesday after her car stalled and the crossing arm came down at the Fifth Street railroad crossing. The car was not moved out of the way, however, and the train struck it.
By By: Susan Dage-Ruby
A good Samaritan reportedly tried to push a 16-year-old girl's car out of the path of an oncoming train Tuesday after her car stalled and the crossing arm came down at the Fifth Street railroad crossing. The car was not moved out of the way, however, and the train struck it.
The driver, Maureen Martin, 16, of Castle Rock, a student at Douglas County High School, was listed in critical but stable condition Tuesday, a Swedish Medical Center spokesperson said shortly after the 7:20 a.m. accident.
The driver of the vehicle behind Martin, her boyfriend, reportedly came to her window and, after a short discussion, returned to his car and attempted to push her car across the tracks to safety.
Castle Rock Fire and Rescue had personnel on the scene within three minutes of the accident even though the train had blocked all crossings in town, said Eric Morgenthaler, division chief with the Castle Rock Fire and Rescue Department.
"When it was evident were weren't going to be able to get to the accident without going to Plum Creek Parkway, we dropped personnel off at Fifth Street and they climbed over the train," Morgenthaler said.
It took about 10 minutes for the heavy rescue vehicles to get from fire headquarters at 300 Perry St to the accident because the equipment had to travel to Plum Creek Parkway and turn north onto Gilbert Street., Morgenthaler said.
The four-door maroon Mazda Protege Martin was driving was pushed about 40 feet from the tracks after the collision, Morgenthaler said.
The girl was extricated with the Jaws of Life and airlifted to Swedish.
"This is the most serious accident this year at that crossing," Morgenthaler said.
The Fifth Street railroad crossing has been a concern of the town's for several years.
Four years ago, after the traffic lights were installed at the crossing, a car-train accident resulted in damage to the back of a car stopped on the tracks, but the driver was not injured.
At the time, the town designed the Front Street improvements and designed a flyover above the railroad tracks that would connect Front and Perry streets.
Approximately two years ago, the Castle Rock Town Council voted to put the flyover on hold until a study of alternatives could be completed.
The town is looking into alternatives, but nothing has been decided, said Dan Sailer, Castle Rock transportation engineering manager.
"I have said for years the only way something will be done at that crossing would be if a top town official were involved in an accident there," said Bill Shaneyfelt, District 2 councilman. "I'm really sorry [the accident] had to happen."
One of the arguments against the relocation of the railroad was based on the lack of serious accidents at that intersection, Shaneyfelt said.
"I can't go to those tracks where I don't see someone doing something wrong," Shaneyfelt said. "The signs say 'don't stop on tracks' but no one reads them."
But even if the flyover were completed, the intersection at Fifth and Perry streets would remain, Sailer said.
"It important to maintain the intersection to serve the number of vehicles traveling on Colorado 86," Sailer said. "But any way we can improve the safety of the intersection we will do it."
The intersection at Fifth and Front streets is a tough one, and when driver inexperience is added to the equation, it becomes worse, said Bruce Caughey, spokesman for the Douglas County School District.
The accident is still under investigation and public works will look at the cause to determine if there is anything the town can do to make the intersection safer, Sailer said.
"Drivers need to realize that stopping on the tracks is something you don't ever do," said Keith Dameron, state coordinator for Colorado Operation Lifesaver.
Regardless of whether a railroad crossing has active or passive controls, Dameron said, 50 percent of all rail-grade accidents happen at crossings protected with lights and or gates.
The driver, Maureen Martin, 16, of Castle Rock, a student at Douglas County High School, was listed in critical but stable condition Tuesday, a Swedish Medical Center spokesperson said shortly after the 7:20 a.m. accident.
The driver of the vehicle behind Martin, her boyfriend, reportedly came to her window and, after a short discussion, returned to his car and attempted to push her car across the tracks to safety.
Castle Rock Fire and Rescue had personnel on the scene within three minutes of the accident even though the train had blocked all crossings in town, said Eric Morgenthaler, division chief with the Castle Rock Fire and Rescue Department.
"When it was evident were weren't going to be able to get to the accident without going to Plum Creek Parkway, we dropped personnel off at Fifth Street and they climbed over the train," Morgenthaler said.
It took about 10 minutes for the heavy rescue vehicles to get from fire headquarters at 300 Perry St to the accident because the equipment had to travel to Plum Creek Parkway and turn north onto Gilbert Street., Morgenthaler said.
The four-door maroon Mazda Protege Martin was driving was pushed about 40 feet from the tracks after the collision, Morgenthaler said.
The girl was extricated with the Jaws of Life and airlifted to Swedish.
"This is the most serious accident this year at that crossing," Morgenthaler said.
The Fifth Street railroad crossing has been a concern of the town's for several years.
Four years ago, after the traffic lights were installed at the crossing, a car-train accident resulted in damage to the back of a car stopped on the tracks, but the driver was not injured.
At the time, the town designed the Front Street improvements and designed a flyover above the railroad tracks that would connect Front and Perry streets.
Approximately two years ago, the Castle Rock Town Council voted to put the flyover on hold until a study of alternatives could be completed.
The town is looking into alternatives, but nothing has been decided, said Dan Sailer, Castle Rock transportation engineering manager.
"I have said for years the only way something will be done at that crossing would be if a top town official were involved in an accident there," said Bill Shaneyfelt, District 2 councilman. "I'm really sorry [the accident] had to happen."
One of the arguments against the relocation of the railroad was based on the lack of serious accidents at that intersection, Shaneyfelt said.
"I can't go to those tracks where I don't see someone doing something wrong," Shaneyfelt said. "The signs say 'don't stop on tracks' but no one reads them."
But even if the flyover were completed, the intersection at Fifth and Perry streets would remain, Sailer said.
"It important to maintain the intersection to serve the number of vehicles traveling on Colorado 86," Sailer said. "But any way we can improve the safety of the intersection we will do it."
The intersection at Fifth and Front streets is a tough one, and when driver inexperience is added to the equation, it becomes worse, said Bruce Caughey, spokesman for the Douglas County School District.
The accident is still under investigation and public works will look at the cause to determine if there is anything the town can do to make the intersection safer, Sailer said.
"Drivers need to realize that stopping on the tracks is something you don't ever do," said Keith Dameron, state coordinator for Colorado Operation Lifesaver.
Regardless of whether a railroad crossing has active or passive controls, Dameron said, 50 percent of all rail-grade accidents happen at crossings protected with lights and or gates.
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