Metro-North Says Loud Radio a Factor in Fatal Crash

Music was blaring from the stereo of the Subaru which struck a train in Redding on Sunday, resulting in the death of one of the car's passengers, according to the Danbury News Times.

According to Metro-North spokesman Marjorie Anders, the train's engineer said music was still playing "very loud" after the collison, the News Times reports. Anders said all of the train's warning systems—bells, whistles and lights—were  operational at the time of the accident and the train was traveling within the speed limit for that section of track. 

The accident . 

Injured in the accident were:

• Jausheema Perkins, 19, of Danbury, the driver. She received head injuries in the accident.
• Fakeem Morning, 19, of Danbury, a passenger who received leg injuries and was transferred to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY.
• James Redmond, 21, of Danbury, a passenger who also received leg injuries and also was transferred to Westchester Medical Center.

There's no gate that comes down in front of drivers to deter them from crossing the tracks when a train is coming, a fact causing some residents to express concern. 

"Metro-North should move the gates that are serving no purpose going up and down behind a fence on Church Street in Georgetown, where the Danbury line runs behind the Nissan dealer, to West Redding where a life could have been saved," Redding resident Leon Karvelis commented on Patch. "It is irresponsible of the transit agency to fail in protecting motorists on a fairly active grade crossing."

According to the News Times, Department of Transportation records indicate this is the third accident at the West Redding Train Station since 1970, and the first one resulting in a fatality. Other accidents occurred in 1989 and 2010. 

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