A quiet Wednesday afternoon in Albany, Oregon turned tragic when 28-year-old Joseph VanZandt was struck and killed by a southbound Amtrak passenger train near the busy Queen Avenue rail crossing. According to the Albany Police Department, the incident occurred at approximately 4:16 p.m. on October 29, 2025, as VanZandt walked his dog and attempted to cross the tracks while the crossing gates were down.
Witnesses say VanZandt and his dog went around the lowered crossing arms and passed a stopped freight train on one track, only to be struck by an Amtrak train on the adjacent track. The freight train had been stopped, but the motion of another train on the parallel track was not apparent at the time. Tragically, VanZandt was pronounced dead at the scene. His dog, thankfully, was unharmed and was later reunited with a friend who arrived shortly after the collision.
Authorities confirmed that the warning gates, lights and bells at the crossing were fully operational, and that this is being treated as a tragic accident, not a criminal act. In a statement, the Albany Police Department stressed the importance of obeying crossing arms and never attempting to go around them or through them—even if no train seems visible. “These safety devices are designed to save lives,” the department said.
Local residents in the Albany area are shaken. Many expressed condolences to VanZandt’s family and raised concern about the particular danger of the Queen Avenue crossing, which handles frequent freight and passenger train traffic. Some community members are calling for renewed awareness efforts and possibly enhanced signage near the crossing, although officials maintain the most critical safety factor remains individual vigilance.
Rail-safety experts note that trains, due to their mass and speed, cannot stop quickly—often requiring more than a mile to come to a full halt. That means once a person is on the tracks and a train is coming, there may be virtually no chance to avoid a collision. Witness statements and investigations in this case match that pattern: VanZandt did not appear to see or have time to react to the incoming train after going around the gates.
In its official message the Albany Police Department extended its deepest sympathies to VanZandt’s loved ones and urged all residents to respect railroad signals and crossing gates without exception. “Train movement can occur on adjacent tracks without warning… safety devices are in place to prevent tragedies like this,” they noted.
This tragic event serves as a sober reminder that—even in seemingly routine moments like walking a dog—rail crossings demand full attention and strict compliance with safety signals. A few moments of hesitation or choice to ignore those warnings can mean the difference between life and death.