A recent incident in Buena Park, where a Korean American driver narrowly avoided a collision with a freight train due to a railroad crossing signal and gate malfunction has reignited concerns over railroad safety.
Following the report, readers came forward with accounts of similar incidents elsewhere. One such case occurred at a railroad crossing near Meridian Avenue and Mission Street in Pasadena.
Hyeseung Jung, a reader, recalled her experience: “As I was passing through, there was no warning sound, no lowered gate-just a green light. Suddenly, a train rushed past. Several drivers slammed on their brakes to avoid a crash. Some were furious, saying this wasn’t the first time it had happened.”
Railroad Crossing Accidents on the Rise
Statistics show a troubling increase in railroad crossing accidents.
According to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), California recorded 835 railroad crossing accidents involving vehicles or pedestrians between 2020 and 2024.
The number of incidents increased by approximately 15%, from 150 in 2020 to 173 in 2023. Last year alone, 94 people were killed or injured in California due to railroad crossing accidents-49 fatalities and 45 injuries.
Among Southern California counties, Los Angeles County saw the highest number of incidents over the past five years, with 128 reported cases. It was followed by San Bernardino (67), San Diego (56), Riverside (26), and Orange County (23).
A Confusing System for Reporting Malfunctions
One of the key issues highlighted by the Buena Park case is the lack of a clear reporting system for railroad crossing signal malfunctions when no collision occurs.
For instance, while the Beach Boulevard railroad crossing is located in Buena Park, its oversight falls not under the city but under the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Union Pacific Railroad (UPR), which operates freight trains in the area.
Hannah Song, who provided footage of the incident, said, “I was nearly in a fatal accident, but I had no idea where to report the issue. Even after asking around, no one seemed to know.”
The oversight of railroad crossings is a complex web of agencies. The installation, maintenance, and signals at crossings are funded through federal safety programs, but state governments must first identify high-risk crossings based on traffic volume, train frequency, and past collisions.
Once a state designates crossings for upgrades, railroad companies like UPR work with local authorities to review and implement safety improvements.
Meanwhile, warning signs, stop signs, and crossing signs fall under the jurisdiction of local transportation departments, making sign maintenance a separate issue.
To report signal malfunctions, UPR provides a hotline (800-848-8715), but callers must know the specific identification number assigned to each crossing. For instance, the Beach Boulevard crossing is identified as 748145F – a detail few drivers would readily have.
Legal and Safety Implications
Federal law requires train operators to sound their horns at least 15 seconds before reaching a railroad crossing. In the Buena Park incident, however, the crossing light remained green for vehicles, while a line of cars waiting to enter the freeway blocked drivers’ view of the oncoming train. If drivers had their windows up or were listening to music, they might not have heard the horn at all.
Attorney Misoo Lee, based in Los Angeles, explained that pursuing legal action in such cases is challenging. “Since no direct collision or loss of life occurred, making a legal claim would be difficult,” she said. “This is why drivers must actively report these issues. However, unlike 911, there is no centralized system for railroad crossing malfunctions – something that needs urgent reform.”
Nationwide, railroad crossing accidents remain a significant safety concern. According to FRA data, there were 2,045 such incidents last year-an average of six per day. In total, 905 people were killed or injured, including 252 fatalities and 653 injuries.
BY YEOL JANG [jang.yeol@koreadaily.com]
