North Tonawanda Mayor: Rail crossings require an extra level of attention

North Tonawanda, N.Y. (WBEN) - "These tragedies shouldn't be happening."

North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec joined WBEN on Monday after the fatal train collision with a pickup truck Friday night that killed three people, including a 6-year-old boy.

"I went to the scene - it was a very sad site," he added.

It is the second fatal train-vehicle collisions so far this year on River Road.

We asked Tylec who is responsible for crossing gates and signage.

"We are not responsible," he said, "nor can we touch anything along CSX's rails. We can't do anything. It's the responsibility of CSX to make sure that intersections are maintained and inspected," he said.

But he added that it doesn't mean that municipalities can't partner with CSX to help in anyway they can.

Tylec also noted that the city has made attempts to build a relationship with CSX over the past couple of years. He also indicated that he's reaching out to state officials to gain access to higher ups at CSX to see how they can be more of a partner throughout the region to prevent these types of incidences from happening. In his words, "It shouldn't happen twice in a year, and shouldn't happen at all."

Are signs not having an impact, the way they used to? And is it going to take a different solution to ensure safety?

Tylec said it comes down to education.

"We need to educate people on what they should and shouldn't be doing in these situations. Whether it's leaving space between you and another vehicle at a crossing because you never know if the gate is going to come down. Or, there could be a malfunction and a train could start moving by."

He said if you happen to stall out on a railroad track, you should just
get out of the car and make sure you're safe.

"It's a level of attention that we all have to be aware of. And we have to be aware of other people on the road in these situations. We always have to make sure that there is enough space between the people on the other side of the tracks, and the track itself, before you cross. That's a huge piece of it
because you just don't know how traffic is going to flow."