The Michigan Department of Transportation will be evaluating a Van Buren County railroad crossing where a Grand Junction woman was killed last week. On Wednesday, 47-year-old Tiffany Glidden died when her truck was hit by a CSX train at a crossing on 16th Avenue. The crossing has no flashing lights or gate. MDOT Rail Safety Manager Tina Hissong tells WSJM News her office will now get involved.
“Per state law, if there is a fatal crash at a crossing that only has a yield sign or a cross buck sign, then we’re required to go out and do a review of that crossing,” Hissong said.
They’ll look at the crossing within 120 days and decide if lights or a gate should be added. Hissong says the state considers traffic volume, speeds, train frequency, and the lay of the land when deciding what will be at a railroad crossing. If a gate or flashing lights were to be deemed necessary for the crossing, it would be paid for with state or federal funds.
