This is the Madison Avenue crossing of the Union Pacific mainline, where a passenger train collided with a man on Friday morning.
What happened this morning, Friday, April 10, 2026, at the railroad crossing on Albany’s Madison Street? In short, a man survived a collision with a train.
The first word at 8:48 a.m. came from the Albany police in the form of an email message:
“Advisory: AVOID Madison St SE at 6th Ave SE for the next 1 hour due to traffic incident. Some roads closed.”
Next came another email. This one was from Bob Melbo, the rail planner at ODOT who is my stellar source for everything connected with Oregon railroads.
“Northbound Amtrak Cascades Train 504,” he wrote, “which had just departed the depot, collided with a man pushing a bicycle at Madison Street crossing this morning around 8:25. The man was injured. Albany police responded.  Train was delayed nearly an hour, departing at 9:18 a.m.”
I asked Laura Hawkins, communications officer at APD, for details.
“It is still under investigation as they review video and talk to witnesses,” she replied, “but it appears Jay McDermott, 66 years old, was walking his bike along the tracks when he was knocked down by the train. He was transported to Good Samaritan with non-life threatening injuries.”
On a bike ride Friday afternoon, I stopped at the crossing, where no trace of the accident remained. Here’s hoping the man quickly recovers so he can savor this remarkable outcome: He got hit by a train and lived! (hh)
You were on a bike ride, Hasso! That is great! Oh, it is also great news that the man survived his encounter with a train.
With arm guards and flashing lights and horns and everything. I grew up right next to the mainline in Shedd. I just don’t understand how these things happen.