CHICAGO (AP) — Federal authorities say railroad safeguards at a train crossing on Chicago's South Side were inactive during a crash that left four people injured.
Two vehicles hit black tanker cars of a stopped freight train around 3 a.m. Monday.
Federal Railroad Administration officials tell The Chicago Tribune that the automated gates and warning devices had been disabled because they had been malfunctioning due to a buildup of road salt that interfered with circuits on the devices.
Authorities say it's likely the drivers couldn't see the train cars in the dark or without any
other safeguards.
Federal railroad officials are collecting evidence from the scene and checking maintenance records.
Residents in the area say they had noticed issues with the crossing in recent weeks.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
Two vehicles hit black tanker cars of a stopped freight train around 3 a.m. Monday.
Federal Railroad Administration officials tell The Chicago Tribune that the automated gates and warning devices had been disabled because they had been malfunctioning due to a buildup of road salt that interfered with circuits on the devices.
Authorities say it's likely the drivers couldn't see the train cars in the dark or without any
other safeguards.
Federal railroad officials are collecting evidence from the scene and checking maintenance records.
Residents in the area say they had noticed issues with the crossing in recent weeks.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
