Jun 15, 2023, 12:24 PM

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Updated

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is partnering with local police to better educate the public about railroad crossing safety as part of International Level Crossing Awareness Day Thursday.

This year, International Level Crossing Awareness Day came a day after a Metro-North train and pickup truck collided at a railroad crossing on Commerce Street in Norwalk. Officials said the pickup truck driver was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Connecticut Department of Transportation representatives joined Norwalk police officers at the Glover Avenue railroad crossing to hand out pamphlets with safety tips to drivers.

The agencies partnered with national nonprofit Operation Lifesaver for the initiative.

"Operation Lifesaver is a national rail safety program that teaches people about rail safety," said Kevin Burns, of the Connecticut DOT. "In Connecticut, the program has been active since 1996. It's the national rail safety program for all the states."

Burns said a person or car is hit by a train every three hours in the United States. He said there's a handful of incidents at railroad crossings in Connecticut each year.

Norwalk Police Lt. Joseph Dinho added he'll often see people walking on train tracks or drivers stopped on train tracks when traffic backs up at a traffic light.

"The incidents very sadly and tragically happen across the country," Dinho said. "We try and tell people the very high danger of ignoring the traffic safety equipment. You never want to go up against a train."

Those who'd like to schedule a railroad crossing safety presentation can do so through Operation Lifesaver.