State Official Blames City Of Madison For Train-Car Crash
Kreunen: Whistle-Ban Ordinance 'Flies In Face Of Common Sense'
Posted: 8:16 a.m. CDT April 10, 2002
MADISON, Wis. -- Two car-train accidents in the last 24 hours are raising more questions about the city's train whistle ban.
The first accident happened Monday night in the 1800 block of East Washington. The second happened over the lunch hour Tuesday in the 600 block of West Washington when an SUV collided with the engine and rolled.
The drivers in both accidents were taken to hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening, News 3 reported.
A state official is blaming Tuesday's accident on the city of Madison ordinance for need to explain ordinance.
The state railroad commissioner says Madison is in for the "legal fight of the decade" if it doesn't repeal its train whistle ban.
Rod Kruenen told News 3 that motorists need to respect train crossings and engineers need to blow whistles when approaching intersections.
The city approved the no-whistle except for emergencies ordinance after residents complained about the noise at all hours of the night.
"They were only able to ring the bell," Kreunen said. "The lights were flashing. This flies in the face of common sense. It's not good safety. It's not good rail safety. We're going to have a fatality."
Kreunen says the federal government banned whistle ordinances last year and Madison's sounds good politically for the mayor and council but needs to be repealed.
The first accident happened Monday night in the 1800 block of East Washington. The second happened over the lunch hour Tuesday in the 600 block of West Washington when an SUV collided with the engine and rolled.
The drivers in both accidents were taken to hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening, News 3 reported.
A state official is blaming Tuesday's accident on the city of Madison ordinance for need to explain ordinance.
The state railroad commissioner says Madison is in for the "legal fight of the decade" if it doesn't repeal its train whistle ban.
Rod Kruenen told News 3 that motorists need to respect train crossings and engineers need to blow whistles when approaching intersections.
The city approved the no-whistle except for emergencies ordinance after residents complained about the noise at all hours of the night.
"They were only able to ring the bell," Kreunen said. "The lights were flashing. This flies in the face of common sense. It's not good safety. It's not good rail safety. We're going to have a fatality."
Kreunen says the federal government banned whistle ordinances last year and Madison's sounds good politically for the mayor and council but needs to be repealed.
Previous Stories:
- November 26, 2001: 9-Year-Old Injured In Train, Car Crash Near Downtown
- August 23, 2001: Car, Train Collide In Fog
Copyright 2002 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
