Whiteside County, IL (April 27, 2020) – A fatal accident took place on Saturday around 12:35 p.m. According to the Whiteside County Sherriff’s Office, a car and a train collided on the railroad crossing at Moline Road and Smit Road.
The Sherriff’s Office said that a 65-year-old man, identified as Robert Merrill of Erie was driving northbound on Smit Road. His vehicle was traveling through the railroad crossing when it got stuck. A train headed eastbound hit the driver’s side door of Merrill’s car. Robert Merrill was pronounced dead at the scene by the Whiteside County Coroner’s Office.
Also in the car was a 16-year-old female passenger who was seated in the front of the vehicle. The teenager was confirmed to be related to Merrill. She sustained serious life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to the local hospital for treatment. According to the authorities, she is in an Iowa hospital in critical condition.
The WCSO is investigating the accident.
Our thoughts are with the injured parties in hopes of a full recovery.
Injury Train Crashes In Whiteside County
Train accidents are not as common as crashes on the roads but they still happen. According to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), there were close to 12,000 train accidents in 2014 and 804 people lost their lives as a result. These accidents were also the reason for thousands of injuries in 2014. Every 100 minutes a train will kill one person and every year, more than 1,000 people lose their lives in fatal train-related accidents.
After a fatal accident, you have the right to pursue compensation on behalf of your loved one who passed on through a wrongful death claim. If you lost a loved one or were severely injured due to the negligence or recklessness of another party, the Alexander J. Smith Law Offices can help you with your personal injury or wrongful death claim. Our Janesville automobile accident attorneys will ensure that your legal rights are protected.
The Janesville personal injury lawyers at Alexander J. Smith Law Offices will provide you the legal representation you need to obtain compensation for your losses. Call us today to set up a free consultation at (608) 237-7035 for residents of Wisconsin or (815) 243-9686 for residents of Illinois. One of our compassionate and skillful Wisconsin and Illinois wrongful death attorneys is here to help you with your claim.
Note: As a result of the secondary sources that were used to complete this post, the information included within has not been independently verified by our own staff and may include misinformation. If you read something that, to your knowledge, is incorrect, please contact us as soon as possible and we will correct the inaccuracy.
Disclaimer: As members of the local community, we hope everyone in our community is safe and protected. We cover the events included in this blog as a way to offer support to the victims in similar circumstances and to provide relief during these difficult times. However, this information should not be misconstrued as legal advice, and you should speak with a trained legal professional for more information regarding your situation.