There are 121 miles of railroad tracks alone in Butler County, which mostly travel through Middletown or Oxford.
Last year, Ohio had 83 train incidents across the state with Butler County having eight of those.
The number of fatalities at highway-rail grade crossings more than doubled in 2015 in Ohio as did rail trespass casualties.
Many possibilities may be causing this rise in Ohio’s train/vehicle crash fatality rate, including impatience, inattention, as well as increased train traffic.
“We are concerned with this significant increase in highway-rail grade crossing fatalities,” said Gena Shelton, coordinator of Ohio Operation Lifesaver. “We will continue our work educating Ohioans about the crucial need to obey warning signs and signals at crossings and stay off train tracks. We are actively working with our state and local partners to spread this safety message.”
For more on the statistics of train incidents in Ohio, click here.
Here are three of the most recent train accidents in Butler County.
March 30, 2016 – Hamilton
A woman that has not been identified was struck by a CSX train and was pronounced dead at the scene in Butler County.
It was reported that the female waited for a southbound train to pass and entered the tracks not realizing another train was coming northbound.
The conductor said that he blew their horns as the train approached the woman but were unable to stop in time.
More up to date information on this accident can be found here.
Jan. 22, 2016 – Middletown
A 47-year-old Middletown man was struck by a train and transported to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.
It was reported that Garner Stephens waited for the northbound to pass the intersection before crossing, unaware of a southbound train.
Both conductors were said to have been blowing their horns and yelling at the man as they approached.
Officials suspect alcohol may have been a factor in the accident.
July 28, 2015 – Middletown
A van collided into the side of a train leaving one dead and 10 others injured, including nine children.
Judith Ashley and Janice Martin, 64, of Middletown were picking up children for an evening vacation Bible school when the van hit the train.
Martin died from blunt force trauma to the chest.
Ashley, the driver, reported taking Vicodin and Adderall all day which may have been a factor in the accident.
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