By Dale Hines
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
November 8, 2025
GAUTIER, MS.
By Dale Hines
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
November 8, 2025
GAUTIER, MS.
One person died Thursday night at around 8:15 p.m. in a collision with an Amtrak train.
Now after an investigation, law enforcement has determined that the driver of the vehicle, Tavarios Johnson, a 40-year-old who was from Gautier, had ignored the fact that the train crossing bars were down, lights were flashing, and witnesses reported that he tried driving around them when he was hit by the train.
Johnson was ejected from the vehicle and died on the scene.
The Amtrak train was en route from New Orleans to Mobile and carrying passengers.
The Southern Rail Commission confirms it was one of the Mardi Gras Service trains that was enroute to Mobile from New Orleans. Amtrak reports all 55 passengers and four crew members on board the train are unharmed.
An autopsy and toxicology tests will determine if drugs or alcohol are involved, police said.
According to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the accident happened on Ladnier Road, just south of Highway 90.
On Amtrak’s website, the train was scheduled to arrive in Mobile around 9:14 p.m.
Two people were killed when an Amtrak train collided with their vehicle on Septemner 23, 2025 on Davis Avenue in Pass Christian around 7:00 p.m.
The victims, who were identified as Douglas Craddock, 31, and Tavianna Ellegant.
Local authorities said their car crossed the tracks without slowing down. They said the train tracks at Davis Avenue have flashing warning lights, but the lights were not working when authorities arrived at the scene because the car crashed into them.
Amtrak said none of its 97 passengers on board were injured.
Approximately 800 to 950 people die annually in train and railroad-related incidents in the U.S., with most fatalities being pedestrians trespassing or people at highway-rail crossings. Passenger deaths in actual train accidents are very rare.
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