Among the five major college towns in Illinois, DeKalb ranks number one in train-related incidents according to a representative from the Union Pacific Railroad.

The four other towns are Urbana-Champaign, Macomb, Charleston and Normal.
Michael Meyer, senior special agent and public safety officer for the Union Pacific Railroad, voiced his concern about DeKalb’s statistics.

“People that fail to take a safe course can find themselves in harm’s way,” Meyer said.

An incident can include, but is not limited to, a pedestrian being struck by a moving train, trespassing in the right of way area of the train or a car going around the gate.

The right of way area of a train is much larger than the right of way area of a car, Meyer said.
“The railroad owns more than just the tracks,” Meyer said.

The property on either side of the tracks as well as the tracks themselves are private property.
The DeKalb Police Department enforces trespassing on the railroad property.

“I encourage my guys to enforce trespassing laws,” said Lt. Carl Leoni of the DeKalb Police Department.

The DeKalb Police Department reported that in 2007, there was one suicide attempt, one sudden death and one accidental injury caused by a train. Thus far in 2008, there has been one sudden death and one accidental injury caused by a train.

Meyer reminds people to find an alternate route when a train is stopped on the tracks.

“If the train is blocking your way, wait and let the train pass or find the end of the train and go around,” Meyer said.

When railroad crossing gates are down and no train is in sight, it is illegal to go around the gates.

“If no policeman or flagman is present, you cannot legally drive around them,” Meyer said.

He also said trains are deceptive and can be going faster than they appear.

“If you stay off the tracks, there shouldn’t be a problem,” Meyer said.

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