Cameron County ranked one of worst in state for train accidents

RANCHO VIEJO - A memorial wreath attached to a small wooden cross sits near the railroad tracks at the corner of Roberta Road and the southbound frontage road.

Although not marked with a photo or name, the wreath is located in an area where a Brownsville man died after trying to outrun a train more than two years ago.

Several years earlier, a San Benito woman was also killed nearby in an accident involving a vehicle and train. Her husband was crossing the tracks and attempted to back up before the train collided with his truck.

Cameron County has been ranked eighth among the 12 most dangerous Texas counties for railway accidents, according to a report by the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Association, a reform group who lobbies to have rail lines moved to from congested areas to less populated regions.

Between 1998 and 2007, the county had 144 rail-related accidents and 124 non-fatal rail injuries, according to statistics compiled by the association.

Harris County, which led the list, saw 1,376 accidents resulting in 90 deaths and 1,145 injuries over the same period.

Train derailments and collisions could be attributed to faulty or neglected tracks in the area, association spokesman John Egan said.

"We are concerned that a lot of the tracks in the state are decades old, and that track needs to be upgraded," he said. "Since freight cars are very heavy there is a fair amount of wear and tear that takes place. There are also crossings that can be improved."

Most of the accidents in Cameron County have occurred along the Union Pacific mainline which comprises nearly all of the track, said Jesus Leal of the Texas Department of Transportation.

"There are a lot of crossings that have brush buildup that needs to be cut back," he said. "Because of the brush, people may not be able to see what's coming."

But Raquel Espinoza, a spokeswoman for the company called the association's report misleading, saying it fails to mention the main causes of the accidents and fatalities - such as driver inattentiveness and dangerous rail crossings.

"They are misinterpreting the data," Espinoza said. "To relocate the railroad tracks you are just moving the problem to somewhere else."

Motorists who are trying to outrun trains or drive around the barriers cause many of the accidents.

"That is completely preventable," Espinoza said. "We've really tried to educate the community about that. It's not worth an extra 45 seconds to try and beat the train."

It was in July 2005 that state troopers believe Juan Medrano Collazo, 74, of Brownsville, was trying to beat a train at Roberta Road and the frontage road. The train struck and dragged Collazo's van more than 1,500 feet. He died from injuries he received in the collision.

Today, the railroad crossing at Roberta Road does not have automated crossing arms to block traffic as trains approach.

Such a lack of infrastructure is not uncommon, especially in rural areas of the county, Cameron County Judge Carlos H. Cascos said.

Many rural crossings don't have barriers, lights or bells to alert motorists or pedestrians of approaching trains.

"Whatever crossings we do have, we should have to have the proper lighting, the proper barriers," Cascos said. "If you have the proper infrastructure in place it's going to reduce the number of accidents."

Egan, from the rail improvement association, added that educating the public could also help reduce accidents. He plans to approach the Texas Legislature when it convenes Tuesday to push for rail relocation funding.

Laura Martinez is a reporter for The Brownsville Herald. Gabriel Saldaña is a reporter for the Valley Morning Star.