TRAIN DERAILMENT SITE TO BE CLOSED THIS YEAR

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 23, 1993                   TAG: 9303230294
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS                                LENGTH: Short
TRAIN DERAILMENT SITE TO BE CLOSED THIS YEAR
The crossing where an Amtrak train slammed into a dump truck last April, derailing the train and killing the truck driver, will be closed by the end of the year, city officials say.
Mayor Barry DuVal and City Traffic Engineer Tom Slaughter confirmed the plans to close the Bell King Road crossing and build another access road for residents. The project is expected to cost about $140,000.
Last April 29, dump truck driver Sam L. Chandler, 61, was killed when he tried to cross the tracks as a 79-mph northbound Amtrak train approached. No one on the train was killed, but dozens of passengers were treated for various injuries.
The crossing was marked by a "crossbuck" sign but did not have lights or a gate.
In August, City Council approved spending $80,000 for crossing gates and flashing lights at the crossing, but those signals were never installed. Instead, after further study by city engineers, the council chose the plan that eliminates the crossing entirely. - Associated Press

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB