Nonprofit group launches rail crossing safety ads

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois and federal officials will join a nonprofit group in launching public service announcements promoting railroad crossing safety.

Operation Lifesaver will unveil the ads Tuesday at a news conference at Union Station in Chicago.

Federal Railroad Administration chief Joe Szabo will attend along with officials from the Illinois Commerce Commission.

"Where's the Best Man" will target younger motorists to prevent vehicle-train accidents by urging them to be alert at crossings. "Conductor Destraido," or "Distracted Driver," will be in Spanish.

Illinois had fewer train-auto crashes from 2005 to 2009 than the national average. But officials say the number went up in 2010. Thursday night, one person was killed and another critically injured on the South Side when their car went around lowered crossing gates and was struck by an Amtrak train.

Amtrak spokeswoman Christina Leeds says Amtrak Train No. 50 had left Union Station a short time before the accident and was bound for New York with 245 passengers.

Illinois has 50 railroads and its 8,000 public-grade crossings rank second nationally.