Merced deputies, railway police target railroad traffic violations

Merced County sheriff’s deputies and BNSF Railway police teamed up Friday to crack down on traffic violations at busy railroad crossings in Merced County.

Officials issued a total of 18 vehicle citations to drivers who were spotted racing over the tracks while crossing lights were blinking, as well as motorists who stopped their vehicles in the crossing area. Authorities also gave out formal warnings to pedestrians seen walking along or on the tracks, railway police said in a news release.

“Today’s mission was to educate the public about the safety around railroad tracks and grade crossings,” officials said in the statement. “Our plan was to accomplish this through specific enforcement of relevant statutes as well as counseling violators about the potential consequences of unsafe and illegal actions.”

Authorities targeted busy crossings between Merced and Ballico, focusing specifically on areas along Santa Fe Avenue intersecting with Bellevue and Buhach roads, as well as on Highway 59, behind the Merced Walmart, sheriff’s Capt. B.J. Jones said.

Railway police said California in 2015 led the nation in the number of “trespasser casualties,” which, they said, included 98 deaths. Texas, they said, was second with 27.

According to the Merced County Coroner’s Office, four people have been killed in train-related deaths this year in the county.

This story was originally published September 23, 2016 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Merced deputies, railway police target railroad traffic violations."