FRA report identifies four states with highest fatal railroad trespasser strikes

California, New York, Florida and Texas consistently logged the highest number of fatal railroad trespasser strikes by trains over a five-year period, according to a new report by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

Published last month, the report provides a summary of FRA trespasser strike data from 2012 through 2017, including intentional (suicide) and accidental or inconclusive (non-suicide) fatalities along railroad rights-of-way.

The report found that the four states consistently had the highest number of strikes regardless of intent. California logged the highest number of fatal strikes, with 250 determined to be suicides and 451, non-suicides.

The FRA determined 3,687 trespasser fatalities involving a train strike occurred during the five-year period. Of those, 1,332 were officially determined to be suicides, while 2,355 were non-suicides.

Strikes involving suicides occur most often during the spring months, while accidental or inconclusive strikes tend to occur most often in summer, FRA officials said.

Analysis of train-strike data helps the FRA and railroads to address the populations and locations most at risk, as well as develop ways to reduce the number of incidents, FRA officials said.