MS Coast man dead after Amtrak train and car collide, authorities say

An Amtrak train collided with a car Thursday night in Gautier, killing one person, authorities said.

The crash happened just after 8:15 p.m. as the train rolled toward Mobile. Witnesses told authorities the motorist was driving around a lowered crossing arm on Ladnier Road when their car collided with the train, Gautier Police Chief David Bever said.

The Gautier Police Department identified the driver as Tavarios Johnson, 40, of Gautier. He died at the scene.

None of the 55 passengers on the train was hurt, and the train continued east about 4½ hours after the crash, said Marc Magliari, an Amtrak spokesperson.

“These incidents can affect everyone involved — those who are injured or die and their families, our train crews, and our passengers,” he said in a statement. “They also serve as critical reminders about the importance of obeying the law and of exercising extreme caution around railroad tracks and crossings.”

The collision was the second fatal crash involving cars and Amtrak trains on the Mississippi Coast this fall. Two people died in September when an Amtrak train hit a car that was crossing the tracks in Pass Christian.

Amtrak began service on the Mississippi Coast this summer for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. The route connects New Orleans and Mobile with stops in Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, Gulfport and Pascagoula.

Clarification: A previous version of this story included an incorrect age and spelling of the victim’s name provided by police.

This story was originally published November 7, 2025 at 9:13 AM.