Second Death Reported in Redding Train v. Car Accident

The 19-year-old Danbury woman who was allegedly behind the wheel of a Subaru when it collided with a train in Redding on Dec. 30 has died, according to the Danbury News Times. On Friday night, officials reported the death of Jausheema Perkins, the the second fatality resulting from the accident.

Wayne Balacky, 21, also of Danbury, was pronounced dead shortly after the accident.

According to a Metro-North spokesman, Perkins failed to stop at the railroad crossing in West Redding despite all of the train station's warning devices—bells, whistles and lights—being fully operational and the train traveling within the speed limit for that portion of the track. Officials said music was playing very loudly on the car's radio at the time of the crash.

Though since 1970, accidents have occurred at the railroad crossing in 1989 and 2010, this is the first such accident resulting in a fatality. There is no gate that comes down to prevent through traffic when a train is approaching at the West Redding railroad crossing. 

State Sen. Toni Boucher (R-26th), whose district includes Redding, recently sent a letter to Department of Transporation and Metro-North asking that a project to improve this particular railroad crossing which is slated to begin in the fall of 2014 be expedited. According to Boucher, money for that project was approved in 2009.

Two other young men were also injured in the accident:

• Fakeem Morning, 19, of Danbury, a passenger who received leg injuries and was transferred to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y.
• James Redmond, 21, of Danbury, a passenger who also received leg injuries and also was transferred to Westchester Medical Center.

MORE COVERAGE:

• Fatality Reported in Redding Train Accident
• Friends of Man Killed in Redding Sunday Mourn Loss
• Residents React to Fatal Accident on Train Tracks
• Metro North Says Loud Radio a Factor in Fatal Crash