NEW ALBANY, Miss. (WTVA) -- Authorities continue to investigate a Thursday night collision between a train and an 18-wheeler.
This is the second train accident in Union County this week and the fourth train accident in North Mississippi in less than a month.
The increase in collisions has raised safety concerns with train officials.
Investigators said a locked gate started the chain of events that led to the collision.
"While they [truck driver and officials] were trying to get a hold of somebody to get the truck driver in [the gate], the train was coming. The driver didn't realize that some of his trailer was stuck over the tracks behind him. The train couldn't stop and it ran over the trailer," said Union County Sheriff Jimmy Edwards.
The truck driver, Kellie Barr of Cooley Transport, told investigators he was trying to drop-off a load of recliner parts to Newport Furniture and didn't see or hear the train.
Train officials told investigators the conductor didn't see the rigs reflectors until it was too late.
"A train traveling approximately 50 miles-per-hour takes about a mile to stop in an emergency situation," said Regional Director of Public Affairs for BNSF Railway, Joseph Faust.
BNSF officials emphasize the public needs to take extra precautions around an active railroad.
"What we are going to be doing over the next few weeks and months is to engage into a series of programs in the community that educate motorists, pedestrians, and the like about the need of safe behaviors around an active railway," said Faust.
Faust said you should always slow down when approaching a railroad crossing and you should never walk on the tracks.
Other officials said it's easy to get complacent when you travel the same route daily, so you can't be too careful.
