A delivery driver is dead after colliding with a passenger train in rural Missouri on Tuesday morning.
The accident happened on February 7th near Pleasant Hill, Missouri at around 9:48 a.m. at an uncontrolled railroad crossing near Smart Road and South Hereford Road.
Fox 2 Now News reports that there was a stop sign and a sign pointing out the railroad crossing at the intersection. The FedEx delivery truck driver, 34-year-old Patrick Metz, died as a result of the wreck. Out of the 35 passengers on the train, no other injuries were reported.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of those involved in this accident,” a FedEx spokesperson said in a statement to KSHB 41. “Safety is our highest priority, and we are cooperating fully with the investigating authorities at this time.”
The initial investigation revealed that the truck failed to yield to the oncoming train while trying to cross the tracks.
This is the second time in less than a year a fatal crash between a truck and a passenger train has occurred in rural Missouri. A crash in June 2022 killed four – a dump truck driver and three train passengers. Since then, the Missouri Department of Transportation has requested $50 million to upgrade rail crossings in the state.