gaithersblog.net

10/8/2007

Media Advisory: Sixth District Identifies Areas Where Most Collisions Have Occurred and Steps up Enforcement

In a continuing effort to improve the safety of drivers and pedestrians, the Montgomery County Police 6th District is releasing the locations in their district where they have found the greatest number of crashes occurring. Officers want everyone driving in the areas listed below to know that over the next several weeks, these locations will be targeted for more frequent traffic enforcement. The goal is to reduce the number of collisions that have been occurring on these roadways.

The list below includes the road name and the closest intersecting road to where the collisions have been occurring; and the number of reported collisions between January and September of this year:

1. Montgomery Village Avenue and Frederick Road 30
2. Clopper Road and Firstfield Road 21
3. Shady Grove Road and Briardale Road 17
4. Airpark Road and Muncaster Mill Road 15
5. Montgomery Village Avenue and Russell Avenue 14
6. Shady Grove Road and Oakmont Avenue 13
7. Midcounty Highway and Goshen Road 12
8. Great Seneca Highway and Muddy Branch Road 12
9. Shady Grove Road and Crabbs Branch Way 10
10. South Frederick Avenue and Education Boulevard 9
11. Quince Orchard Boulevard and Firstfield Road 9

Montgomery County Police want to remind all drivers to be particularly careful and to consistently follow all the appropriate driving laws.

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Contact: Media Services Division Phone: 240.773.5030

Update: The Montgomery County Police have posted an media advisory on this incident:

10/8/2007

Man Struck and Killed by Train in Gaithersburg

Yesterday at approximately 9:03 p.m., Montgomery County Police 6th District officers and Fire/ Rescue Service personnel responded to the area of Chestnut Street and East Diamond Avenue in Gaithersburg for the report of a pedestrian struck by a train.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Daniel Medina, age 47, of no fixed address, was seen sitting on the train tracks. The engineer of a CSX train traveling eastbound sounded the train’s horn several times. The victim did not react, and the engineer was unable to stop the train prior to its striking the pedestrian.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Major Crimes Division – Homicide/Sex Section at 240-773-5070.

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Contact: Media Services Division Phone: 240.773.5030

Also, Channel 4 has a story on this, with a video:

Residents and emergency officials said they’re familiar with numerous fatalities along the tracks in the area over the years. Whether people are purposely stepping into the path of the train or they’re being killed by accident, it is a concern in the area, News4’s Darcy Spencer reported. Some people say authorities need to do more to make the crossing safer and reduce the number of deaths.

Brittany Morehouse of WUSA9 is reporting:

Police say an unidentified man was walking alone just after 9 p.m. near the tracks. He was about 50 yards south of a popular crossing when a CSX Freight train came up behind him.

The incident happened near the same Chestnut Road intersection where a 17-year-old was killed two weeks ago. On Sept. 22, the teen was crossing with his friends when he would not leave the tracks. Police have now ruled his death a suicide. They say both cases are not related.