One year to the day after five Pana residents died in a collision with a freight train, state Senator Andy Manar is urging people to be cautious at rural railroad crossings.
On June 14, 2017, five members of a family returning from a church event in Nokomis died when their vehicle was struck by a train in Christian County. Since then, $600,000 has been allocated for upgrades to that crossing and another one nearby.
Manar advises drivers to stop at all crossings and to obey all crossing signals. He also says standing, walking or taking photos on railroad tracks is dangerous and illegal.