SLIDELL — For the second time in two months, a late night train accident in Slidell left a local woman dead, Slidell Police Spokesman Det. Daniel Seuzeneau reported.
Bonnie Gibbs, 57, was killed at the intersection near the Rouse’s Supermarket on Front Street, Seuzeneau reported, when she was attempting to cross the railroad tracks, but her car got stuck in the gravel.
Seuzeneau said that Gibbs had apparently gotten out of the car when she saw it was stuck, and realized a train was coming. But as she tried to get out of harm’s way, her 2005 Ford Taurus was struck by the oncoming train, with the car striking Gibbs as it was spinning around.
The accident happened at 8:15 p.m. on Sunday night at the tracks across from Lafayette Street.
Seuzeneau said that the back end of Gibbs’ car had gotten stuck in the gravel after she accidentally drove her vehicle off the main roadway. This left the rear end of the vehicle exposed on the railroad tracks.
By the time Slidell Police and other emergency personnel arrived at the scene, Gibbs had succumbed to her injuries, Seuzeneau reported. Investigators don’t believe that drugs or alcohol contributed to the accident, but routine toxicology tests are still pending.
Last month, Slidell resident Jamii F. Pizzitolo, was struck at the intersection of Front Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Witnesses say that Pizzitolo, for unknown reasons, made a left turn onto the railroad tracks before a southbound train struck Pizzitolo’s northbound vehicle.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are about 5,800 vehicle train crashes each year in the United States.
These accidents kill about 600 people and injure about 2,300 each year. Slidell Police want to remind all drivers of railroad crossing safety. Trains have the right of way 100% of the time. It takes the average freight train more than a mile – the length of 18 football fields – to come to a complete stop.
“Never try and beat a train by going around railroad crossing arms, never stop on the tracks (especially at a red light), and if your vehicle becomes stuck or stalled on the tracks, move away to a safe distance and call 911,” Seuzeneau said.