Jan 27

Written by:
1/27/2012 8:48 AM 

Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office - The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated a reported train accident in the Raceland area yesterday afternoon. Units responded to the rear of Bowie Road to a private property area of the main rail line owned by BNSF. 
Officers found that a pickup truck driven by Jobi Stevens was on the tracks as a freight train traveling from the Avondale terminal north contacted the vehicle as it sat across the tracks. Further investigation revealed that the truck owned by Jobi Stevens was reported to be stuck on the track. Stevens said that he had called friends to come to his location to assist with removal of the truck from the tracks. Stevens and his passenger Cody Matherne reported hearing the horn of the train and moved from the location of the truck. 
Officers made contact with the conductor and engineer on the train. Union Pacific employees said that the train was traveling about 40 MPH when they noticed a vehicle across the tracks as they rounded a curve heading north. Employees immediately began emergency stopping procedures slowing to a speed of about37 MPH at the time of impact with the truck. The train traveled about 190 feet after impact. None of the parties on the train or vehicle were injured. Sheriff Webre said that we still are not sure why Stevens and his companion were on private property and in this particular area without approval.

The following were charged by citation with Criminal Trespass:

Jobie Stevens,  11-12-91
603 Eight Street
Lockport

Cody Matherne,  01-15-92
231 Laris Drive
Raceland

Cory Cortez,  02-03-92
204 Sako Drive
Raceland

Casey Allemand,  11-15-91
224 Central Lafourche Drive
Mathews

Sheriff Webre said that the families are very fortunate that nobody was injured or killed. We have all recently been made aware of an accident in Kenner where a father and son lost their lives in a similar type accident. Having a main rail line stretching for at least half of the parish is a real asset. Accident investigations involving this type of rail and train accidents have been very few.