Woman killed after apparently failing to yield her van to train

Police have identified a woman killed at about 11:20 Friday morning after, they said, she apparently failed to yield to a train at a railroad crossing.

A witness told police that the Plymouth Voyager van driven by Brenda Wright, 61, of Sylvan Street, was traveling south on Old Hickory Boulevard just south of Lebanon Pike at about 50 to 55 mph and didn’t slow down before a locomotive crashed into it.

The Nashville & Eastern locomotive pulled no cars and traveled at about 25 mph when it collided with Wright’s van. A witness traveling behind the van confirmed the crossing lights and bells were activated. 

So far, according to police, the contributing factor to the collision appears to be failure to obey the railroad-crossing signal. They found no indication of alcohol or drug involvement at the scene.

Wright was alone in the van at the time of the crash.