The second Amtrak accident at a grade crossing without warning lights or gates in two days.

There was a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment in the Pittsburgh area a few weeks ago under similar circumstances involving a dump truck at such a crossing that put tank cars containing petroleum distillate into a creek that feeds into the Allegheny River. Fortunately there was little spillage and what there was was mostly contained by booms deployed in the creek.

The signs at such grade crossings used to say "STOP-LOOK-LISTEN" and that's still a requirement for school buses and commercial vehicles transporting hazardous cargo over the crossings. I wonder if it should be made the law for all vehicles. People should also recognize that it isn't easy to judge the speed of an oncoming train at a glance and trying to beat the train is gambling with their life and the lives and well-being of others.

Big Al