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| Gilchrest Road crossing accident | |
|---|---|
 The CSX grade crossing in April 2018, seen from the southeast | |
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| Details | |
| Date | March 24, 1972 about 7:55 am |
| Location | Clarkstown, New York |
| Coordinates | 41°08′02″N 73°56′43″W / 41.1338°N 73.9452°W |
| Country | United States |
| Line | School bus |
| Incident type | Grade crossing |
| Cause | Bus driver's failure to yield at a grade crossing |
| Statistics | |
| Vehicles | Freight train and school bus |
| Deaths | 5 |
| Injured | 46 |
The Gilchrest Road crossing accident was a grade crossing incident that occurred on March 24, 1972, in the town of Clarkstown, New York, between the hamlets of Valley Cottage and Congers, roughly 25 miles (40 km) northwest of New York City. Five students from Valley Cottage were killed, and 44 others were injured.
The Penn Central (formerly New York Central) railway crossing at Gilchrest Road West, just outside Valley Cottage, contained only crossbucks and lacked additional warning hardware, such as flashing lights, crossing gates or a warning bell. The railway line was also difficult for road vehicles to see due to the curvature of the road and lineside trees.