Residents Feel Deadly Train Accident Could Have Been Prevented

A 56-year old Canton man loses his life in a deadly crash in Copiah County. Alonzo Minter died when his S.U.V. collided with an Amtrak train at the intersection of County Line and Hartley Lane. We’re told he was not wearing his seatbelt, was thrown from his vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. His family hopes their loss might save others.

"I can't hardly take it. I can't keep looking at people dying like that for no reason," cries his cousin.

Betty Sue Williams says this isn't the first train accident at this intersection where Minter was killed.

"It’s horrible to sit and look at your own blood die like that. It’s just sad," expresses Williams.

She says Minter was on his way to a family gathering when he was hit.

"I heard the whistle ‘Whoo’ and ‘Bam.’ That’s what I heard. The train hit him so fast, it happened so quick," recalls Napoleon Terry.

Right now, the crossing has the minimum signage required. But, his family feels there needs to be better warnings.

"They should put something down there to stop them when a train is near like a light. A light wouldn't hurt," comments Williams.

"If they don't put more of those things a lot more people gonna get killed and it's sad," adds Terry.

And, they're starting a petition to get more warning signs put at this intersection.

"It probably gonna have to be one hundred or two hundred people get killed before they do something up through here. It’s just too dangerous. I hate to see someone else die. Once that cross arm gets there, if somebody gets hit, it won't be nobody's fault them. It’ll be on them," Michelle Herron tells News Channel 12.

For now, the Copiah County sheriff is warning all residents to be cautious at all times when crossing railroad tracks.

"Stop, look and listen. For goodness sakes, stop, roll your window down and listen and look and use common senses to avoid these accidents," warns Sheriff Harold Jones.

MDOT is responsible for deciding what warning devices are used at each railroad crossing.

Sheriff Jones says the last accident at this intersection was back in 2008 when a train hit a dump truck. He says the two men in the truck were not seriously hurt.