I’m not sure I would have given that award. Grade crossings are inherently dangerous places and I’ve seen more than a few drivers either blast on through them or even stop without looking, even when the trains move fast and there’s a lot of rail traffic. This is just about as true for grade crossings owned by Amtrak, state commuter agencies or private corporations.

I feel sorry for this guy’s family or friends, but I wonder if he stopped, looked, or listened in the final few minutes of his life. If he had, he might still be alive.

I couldn't find one story that had all the details, but a few stories add more. Eight accidents had occurred at this crossing, which was marked with a sign but no bells, lights, crossing gates, etc.

The railroad had already admitted that one of its old buildings blocked drivers' view of oncoming trains. But it made its lessee, a small family business, responsible for taking down the building. It took the family a few years to raise the $50k to demolish it. Of course, that would have been a drop in the bucket (and I wouldn't be surprised if it would be deductible) for the railroad.

Ironically, the driver was driving a big rig to carry the back hoe that was used to demolish the building.

Cases like this are meant to make companies do the right thing instead of make the common decision, which we've all seen before, to avoid paying a small price to avoid a big danger.