ROCKWOOD, Pa. – A Somerset County woman tried to drive around railroad crossing barriers Thursday just before her SUV was struck by an oncoming train, killing both people in the vehicle, investigators said Friday.
Susan Spangler, 67, tried to clear the Rockwood railroad crossing moments after one train passed – but traveled directly into the path of a second train, Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees said.
Mechanical crossing arms were lowered to prevent traffic from proceeding when the crash occurred, he added.
“This was a tragic accident,” Lees said. “The arms were down … and the driver apparently did not see the second train approaching from her left.”
Spangler and her mother, Deloris Latshaw, 85, were heading home from purchasing tomato plants and flowers when their SUV was struck by the CSX train, Lees said.
The crash occurred shortly before 10:30 a.m. Thursday at a Bridge Street crossing just south of Main Street in Rockwood, state police have said.
The train’s force pushed Spangler’s SUV 1,500 feet, Lees added.
Spangler, who was wearing a seatbelt, suffered multiple blunt-force injuries. She was transported to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, but was pronounced dead in the emergency room, Lees said.
Somerset County Coroner Cullen Swank said the passenger, later identified by state police as Latshaw, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
With the summer season arriving, Lees urged people to slow down and be more cautious of their surroundings. Hot, sunny days add more vehicles to roads, and also invite bicyclists, joggers, and children into neighborhoods.
Motorists are sharing roads with e-bikes, scooters and motorcycles that can be harder to spot than an oncoming car or truck, Lees said.
Crews often are active during the busiest times of day to repair roads and bridges – often directing traffic in construction zones, Lees said, adding that puts them at risk of being struck by distracted or impatient motorists.
“Accidents like these are preventable … if we are alert and paying attention to our surroundings,” Lees said.
He cited a new Pennsylvania law prohibiting people from handling their cellphones while driving as a necessary mechanism to improve road safety.
“We’re all guilty of reaching for our cellphones while we’re driving, but they are dangerous distractions,” he said.
He reminded people to give themselves adequate time to get to their destinations to avoid the urge to drive aggressively.
“The message is to relax, pay attention and slow down,” he said. “If we can save one person from being killed, or even injured, it’s worth it.”