File 1995.03: Siglin v. Santa Fe

Case Type: Railroad Crossing Vehicle Accident

Description:
A high-speed collision of a Locomotive and the driver of a Ford Taurus Station Wagon. The plaintiff argued that the railroad crossing was not safe for motorists to cross for several reasons: No lights or crossing guard rails at the intersection; vegetation blocked the driver's view from being able to see the train until the last second; the acute angle by which the road met the railroad track made it difficult for a driver to look over the shoulder to see a train approaching; and the train's high speed (about 72 MPH) didn't allow sufficient time for an adequate response from the driver.

Phase 1, Pre-Visualization, Measurement and Discovery:
Fearless Eye visited the site of the accident and conducted measurements with digital transoms and digital photography. Aerial photography and land plots were collected from the location for a period covering 10 years. During inspection of these aerial photographs, Fearless Eye discovered a significant increase in tree growth over time in the immediate vicinity of the intersection.

Phase 2, Visualizations Produced:
3D models of the locomotive and automobile were built. According to counsel's reconstruction experts, several animations were produced from the view of the driver, showing multiple ways in which the driver could have responded given more time or an unobstructed view.