Focus falls on gate in train death inquiry

By Christian Hill | The Olympian • Published September 04, 2008

An inspector from the Federal Railroad Administration will investigate whether a malfunctioning gate played a role in Tuesday's fatal crash involving a car and two trains in Bucoda.

There are conflicting accounts about the position of the gate when Patricia A. Panter, 74, of Bucoda, turned left from state Route 507 onto West Sixth Street and struck the third engine of a southbound freight train about 4:30 p.m. The 1995 Subaru Legacy she was driving then was struck by northbound Amtrak Cascades passenger train.

Panter died while being flown by helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. There were no other injuries reported.

A witness was adamant that a gate on the west side of the tracks had not lowered. The gate on the east side of the tracks did come down, said Ashley Bunting, 21, of Tenino.

Other residents said that the gates have malfunctioned in the past.

A BNSF Railway worker said the company tested the gate's warning signals, which include flashing lights, 28 days earlier and found no problems, said Washington State Patrol spokeswoman Brandy Kessler.

A BNSF Railway spokesman wouldn't provide information about the crashes Wednesday.

The State Patrol is leading the investigation, but federal law prevents local and state agencies from inspecting the warning signals at railroad crossings.

Federal Railroad Administration spokesman Warren Flatau said Wednesday that an inspector will speak to the witness and inspect the signals.

Federal law requires that warning signals activate at least 20 seconds before a train arrives. The speed limit for trains is 79 mph at crossings.

Video from a camera aboard the freight train could show the gate's position before the crash. It will take five days for the video to be processed so it can be viewed, Kessler said.

Meanwhile, Panter's family is grieving.

William Panter, 72, her husband of 54 years, said he had forgotten his wallet during a visit to a veterinarian Tuesday afternoon. His wife drove to Tenino to pay the bill, and he stayed behind to finishing patching up the roof of a motor home.