CHEROKEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accident involving train and a car in southeast Kansas.
Early Friday, sheriff's deputies and emergency personnel were on scene of a non-injury crash involving a train north of Columbus on Kansas Highway 7 near Bethlehem Road, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. Fortunately, there were no injuries. The sheriff's office released no additional details late Friday morning.
According to the National Safety Council, every four hours someone is hit by a train in the United States. Since 2017, each of the 212,000 railroad crossings in the U.S. has been marked with a sign that clearly identifies the crossing, along with a number to call immediately if a vehicle or another hazard is found on the tracks.
The NSC reminds drivers: Never try to beat a train; whether on foot or in a vehicle, stay off the tracks if the grade crossing lights are on and the gate is down; Respect the train and tracks; only cross a track at a grade crossing and if stuck on the tracks, find the blue sign identifying the crossing number and call the railroad so trains in the vicinity can be alerted as soon as possible.