Theodore, Alabama — A man and his fiancée were killed Thursday morning after an Amtrak train struck their vehicle on railroad tracks in Theodore, leaving the car completely split in half and both occupants dead.
The fatal crash happened around 10:45 a.m. on Sept. 24 near Bellingrath Road and Peary Road, according to the Mobile Police Department. Officers arriving at the scene found the two people inside the vehicle deceased.
Police identified the victims as James Cobb, 41, and Suzanne Wages, 44, who was Cobb’s fiancée, according to local reports.
Police Say Vehicle Went Around Crossing Gates
According to the Mobile Police Department, the vehicle entered the railroad crossing while the crossing gates were down.
“Upon arrival, officers discovered the two vehicle occupants deceased,” police said. “Upon further investigation, officers discovered the vehicle went around crossing gates that were down at the time prior to the train striking the vehicle, ejecting both the driver and passenger.”
The Amtrak train was traveling toward Mobile when it collided with the vehicle.
The force of the impact was devastating, with both Cobb and Wages being ejected from the vehicle. Authorities said the crossing’s safety equipment was operating normally at the time of the crash.
Family Friend Witnessed the Horrific Crash
The tragedy was especially difficult for a close family friend who happened to witness the crash.
Pastor Leonard Whitfield had spoken with Cobb less than an hour before the collision. Whitfield told local television station that he had encountered Cobb while he was pumping gas.
“He was pumping gas in his car. And I spoke to him, hollered at him,” Whitfield said. “He’ll throw his hand up and look and give you that smile. Prior to the incident, I came across the track, made a right turn. I heard the boom. When I heard the boom, I turned around, made the block, and came back around.”
When Whitfield returned to the scene and saw the damaged silver vehicle, he immediately recognized it.
The vehicle had been sliced in half by the impact, making the reality of what had happened even more difficult for the family friend to process.
Car Was “Completely Cut in Half”
Mobile Public Affairs Manager Blake Brown said the circumstances indicated that the vehicle did not wait for the approaching train to pass. Brown also said the railroad crossing equipment appeared to be functioning properly at the time of the collision.
“It’s our understanding that the vehicle was completely cut in half by the train,” he said.
Brown used the crash as a warning to drivers approaching railroad crossings.
“Pay attention,” Brown added. “Don’t try to outrun a train. Don’t try to go under the arms. They’re there for a reason.”
The warning comes as authorities continue to stress the importance of obeying railroad crossing signals and gates.
Another Alabama Crossing Crash Killed Mother and Daughter
Thursday’s tragedy is not the first deadly crash in Alabama involving a vehicle going around railroad crossing arms.
In February, 31-year-old Brittany Williams and her 8-year-old daughter were killed after their vehicle went around crossing arms and was struck by an Amtrak train.
The two incidents highlight the potentially devastating consequences of entering a railroad crossing while warning equipment is activated.
A train can take significantly longer to stop than a passenger vehicle, leaving drivers with little opportunity to avoid a collision once they enter the tracks.
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Investigation Into the Crash Continues
The Mobile Police Department is continuing its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Theodore collision. The deaths of Cobb and Wages have left their families and friends mourning a couple whose lives ended in a matter of moments.
For drivers, officials are once again emphasizing a basic but critical safety rule: never attempt to drive around lowered railroad crossing gates or cross tracks when warning signals indicate that a train is approaching.
The tragedy serves as another reminder that a few seconds saved at a railroad crossing can never outweigh the danger of an approaching train.
Have you ever witnessed a dangerous situation at a railroad crossing? Share your experience or thoughts on railroad safety in the comments below.
