Crossing lights and bars needed now

I am infuriated about the Milnor Railroad accident that happened on Tuesday morning. I live three houses down from the railroad and travel over it everyday. When traveling east toward Molly Pitcher Highway, the railroad tracks are not clearly visible. There are trees and brush, homes and buildings in the way of the track. There is not even a stop sign compelling law abiding citizens to stop. There is a guide line to show where a safe stopping place is. That is a joke! You cannot see anything until your nose is on the tracks far past the guidelines!

I am aware of the danger of the track and always stop to look and listen, however there have been many times that I have not been able to see until it was too late. I had no choice except to step on the gas and pray that I could make it across before the train. Believe me, I am not a fan of risk taking. Neither is my grandfather, but he had no choice but to risk his life last November and save Keith Lehman's life after his milk truck was hit by a train and was at risk of blowing up. That was eight months ago! Where are the lights and bars we requested then? Doesn't it cost us so much more to keep deploying medics and ambulances, police staff, and workers, and having the railroad and township conduct investigations, then it would to just add some blinking lights and bars?

We have a big family that travels Milnor every day. I'm sick of worrying every time I hear a train whistle blow that someone in my family could be at the tracks at risk of being hit. There is nothing to warn them except for a whistle and railroad sign. Not good enough! Is it worth the loss of life and the risk? People that have been injured and killed here are not people who were risking it on purpose. You cannot see heading east. Something needs to be done now! There is no reason to wait eight more months until someone has to get hurt or lose their life. One life lost is too much. It cost a family far more than some crossing bars and lights would have. Let's get our priorities straight. I would like to know whose responsibility it is to put crossing bars and lights at this track. From now on I am considering them personally responsible for anymore accidents, injuries and loss of life at the Milnor tracks until crossing bars and lights are put up.

Sarah Izer Greencastle