SAN ANTONIO – A string of incidents along San Antonio-area railways on Sunday, involving multiple people being hit, is adding to what safety advocates describe as a consistent and growing problem.
“Not just San Antonio, but throughout the United States, every three hours, a person or vehicle is struck by a train,” said Jessica Devosrky, executive director of Texas Operation Lifesaver, a nonprofit aimed at preventing train-related accidents.
According to the state’s Railway Safety Overview Report, Bexar County has recorded around 50 incidents or accidents over the past three years. That marks an increase from 2018 to 2020, when the numbers were in the low 40s.
Texas Operation Lifesaver says education is a key part of reducing those numbers, especially in a state with extensive rail lines.
“We do have a lot of rail all through Texas, and it’s really important for everyone, from children all the way up to our first responders, to know how to be safe around tracks and trains,” Devosrky said.
Devosrky said the group focuses on teaching the public how to recognize and respond to warnings at crossings, and stressed that people should only cross tracks at designated locations.
“We think it remains most important to just educate the public about the signs and signals on and around crossings… the only safe place to cross railroad tracks is at a public crossing, even if it’s where cars cross and only when there is not a train approaching,” she said.
She said larger population centers typically have more crossings and more vehicle and pedestrian traffic, increasing the stakes for safety around rail lines.
“You’re going to see high traffic, car traffic, foot traffic, and then you’re still going to have trains present. That’s why it is really important for us to educate the public on how to be safe around tracks and trains,” Devosrky said.
Requests for comment were sent to city and county leaders about whether any infrastructure changes are being considered on or around tracks in the area, but no response had been received.