The article said this:
Authorities estimated the train was traveling at 17 to 20 mph and that the wreck was caused by a combination of Brady initially not seeing the train and his then trying to beat it to the crossing. The crossing has no warning lights or crossbars to indicate a train is approaching and to block access.
It sounds like this was another case of a driver trying to beat the train. Considering their six day old baby, the father could have been tired and not thinking clearly.
I live in a rural state and there are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of railroad crossings in my state that only have a sign, no gate or lights. There's lots of four way intersections with only a stop sign as well. People who live in rural areas don't usually expect the same level of warnings that people who live in urban areas live with. It's just not fiscally possible to install and maintain lights, gates, etc, and the general opinion is that they are really not needed.