KCSR, Columbus and Greenville help conduct crossing collision investigation course

Kansas City Southern Railway Co. (KCSR), the Columbus and Greenville Railroad and Mississippi Operation Lifesaver partnered to conduct a Grade Crossing Collision Investigation (GCCI) course Nov. 18 in Columbus, Miss.

The course was attended by 13 Columbus-area emergency responders and several commercial vehicle enforcement officers from the Mississippi Department of Transportation, according to an item posted on the "KCS News" web page.

GCCI courses were developed for the North American law enforcement community with assistance from the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Sheriffs Association and Operation Lifesaver Inc. The four-hour basic, eight-hour intermediate and 16-hour advanced courses are offered at no cost to help law enforcement officers more effectively investigate crossing incidents. In addition, the courses target local emergency responders, who could become involved in a crossing collision investigation.

During the Columbus event, which was organized by Mississippi Operation Lifesaver, KCSR special agents provided classroom instruction at a facility provided by the Columbus and Greenville Railroad.

"This was a great opportunity to strengthen relationships with local emergency responders and share information about working safely around railroads, as well as preventing and investigating grade crossing collisions," said KCSR District Special Agent Cort LaBlank in the news item.