2013 already a deadly year at Iowa rail crossings

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Six people have already died in accidents at Iowa railroad crossings this year, making it a deadly year.

The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa averages 57 crashes at railroad crossings and 4.5 deaths every year. About 21 people are injured each year.

The data shows that two-thirds of the crashed in Iowa since 1975 were caused by drivers or pedestrians who failed to stop at crossings.

And most crashes since 2010 happened at crossings that lack gates or flashing lights.

But the number of crashes has fallen significantly over the past three decades.