On September 8, 2023, 9-year-old Easton “E” Wilsey was riding his bike to school in Royal, Illinois when he was struck and killed by a train near the Main Street railroad crossing, just blocks from Prairieview-Ogden North Elementary.

Easton was a beloved son, brother, grandson, student, teammate, and friend. He was the kind of child who left a mark on everyone around him. He loved sports and spent much of his time playing football, baseball, and wrestling. He loved swimming with family on hot summer days, cheering on the Royal Giants, and spending weekends surrounded by the people who loved him most. He was also a dedicated student at Prairieview-Ogden Elementary School, known for working hard, keeping up with his schoolwork, and showing up with care and commitment.

Most of all, Easton had the kind of heart people never forget. He was patient, empathetic, genuine, and deeply loved by his family, friends, classmates, teachers, and community. He was part of a close-knit community that continues to feel the weight of his loss every day. 

Easton’s death was not just a heartbreaking accident. It was a call to action.

Children, families, bicyclists, pedestrians, school staff, and community members use this crossing. When a railroad crossing sits near a school and is part of a daily route for children, the safety standard should reflect that reality. Families should not have to wonder whether enough has been done to protect the people who cross there every day.

That is why Easton’s family, friends, and supporters are asking for a safety gate and additional active warning protections to be installed at the Royal railroad crossing.

Railroad crossing safety is a serious issue across the country. According to Federal Railroad Administration data shared by Operation Lifesaver, there were more than 2,200 highway-rail grade crossing collisions in the United States in 2025, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries. Illinois was among the states with the highest number of crossing collisions that year. These numbers are not abstract. They represent families, communities, and lives forever changed.

Safety gates, lights, and other active warning measures are visible, practical tools that help alert people when a train is approaching. At crossings used by children and families, especially those near schools, those protections matter.

This petition asks Union Pacific, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), the appropriate state and local agencies, and all decision-makers involved to take immediate action to improve safety at the Royal railroad crossing. Specifically, we are asking for:

• A pedestrian safety gate to be installed at the crossing
• Pedestrian and bicyclist safety to be fully considered, not only vehicle traffic
• A review of the crossing’s proximity to Prairieview-Ogden North Elementary and its use by children and families
• A clear timeline for implementing safety improvements

This effort is about honoring Easton’s life with action. It is about listening to a grieving family and a concerned community before another tragedy happens. It is about making sure that children can travel to school, ride their bikes, and move through their own town with the necessary safety measures and protections in place.

Please sign this petition to support Easton’s family and the Royal community in calling for a safety gate and improved railroad crossing protections.

For Easton. For his family. For every child who deserves to get to school safely.