Early Sunday morning, 34 year-old Roger Corpus of Lubbock was driving down 34th St. near Alcove St. when his car collided into a train. Roger Corpus was taken to University Medical Center after the accident where he underwent surgery after suffering from internal bleeding. Corpus remains at UMC with his family, awaiting another surgery on Monday.
It’s not clear how this accident happened, but neighbors say that many things are not clear about this railroad crossing.
The tracks along 34th St. near the outskirts of Lubbock are slanted across the road, surrounded by tall weeds on all sides. A few signs indicate the approaching tracks, but people who live in the area aren’t sure those signs are effective at night.
The Corpus family spoke with EverythingLubbock.com Sunday saying that they believe the tall weeds and limited signage around the railroad tracks contributed to Roger Corpus’ accident. The Corpus family lives in the area and was worried about the safety of the railroad tracks long before the accident.
Other families are concerned to. Several told everythingLubbock.com that they’ve seen an increased number of trains passing through the area.
“I’m so very sorry for the (Corpus) family and I can’t say I’m surprised at all, near misses and close calls, they happen often,” said neighbor Amy Young.”It’s a very scary part of the road.”
Young has spent a great deal of time in the area where the crash happened and thinks it is difficult to tell when trains are coming, especially at night.
“As soon as you hit Alcove St. you have to start watching, the trains do not blow their horns until they get right to the road,” Young said. “It’s very concerning.”
Corpus’ crash hits close to home for Young, whose family has encountered several close calls with trains at that exact spot.
“A member of our family has almost had a very bad accident (at that spot) because the speakers of their stereo were up and they didn’t know anything until it was almost too late,” she said.
Young wonders why the city hasn’t installed lighting or a railroad crossing arm at the tracks on 34th St.
“As much traffic as we have coming through here, I can’t beleive it’s not a properly marked area,” she said.
She hopes that this crash will prompt the city to install more signs in at the crossing. As a mother, Young said that this crash is a reminder to tell her kids to be extra careful when driving over the railroad tracks.