MERIDIAN TWP. — You can forgive Meridian Township police if they’re getting a little irritated by drivers who disregard signs in construction zones.
An Oct. 1 incident at the rail crossing on Hagadorn Road, just south of Mt. Hope Road, was the third time in less than a week where a driver there ignored road closure signs, leading to a crash.
Wednesday’s incident happened just before 7 a.m., when a driver “disregarded the activated gate arms,” and the vehicle was struck by railroad maintenance equipment being used to replace railroad ties, police officials said in a news release.
MORE: 5 years after BWL held its last chili cook-off, popular Lansing event is being revived
No one was injured, but the crossing was closed for about 90 minutes while crews cleaned up from the crash.
No injuries were reported in two similar events over the past weekend at the same location in which vehicles became stuck on the tracks, police said.
“The Meridian Township Police Department reminds all drivers to obey posted signage and crossing signals, especially in active construction zones,” the news release said. “Disregarding these warnings not only endangers the driver but also poses serious risks to rail workers and other motorists.”
Anyone with information about those incidents or who wants to share concerns about traffic safety in the area is asked to call the department at (517) 853-4800 or submit a concern online at www.meridian.mi.us/police.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Police ask drivers to stop dodging railroad crossing gates at Hagadorn Road
Reporting by Ken Palmer, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
