I'm glad Nathan was able to capture the scene of this unfortunate accident. I'd guess the truck driver is looking for another profession.
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| Posted by N691LF on July 12, 2005 | |
The truck driver is probably getting a lawyer to sue the railroad for running a train into him.
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| Posted by on July 12, 2005 | |
That's the problem with some drivers today. It's all about the money. Drivers of today always find ways to blame the railroad for their mistakes. They try to tell a story of what the railroad didn't do! Wheither it didn't hear the train or didn't bother to look or the place needs gates. Of course, the black box knows all. It's a story of an inpatient driver that wants to beat the train to a crossing. What it looks like to me, is this driver underestimate the length of his trailer. Train didn't go too fast but hit it in a precise way that tore the trailer up.
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A few things... 1) The train couldn't have been going that fast, the locos are stopped over the crossing (unless they backed up). 2) The crossing looks very well protected with over the road signals and crossing arms (under the trailer). 3. As with most train collisions, completely inexcuseable. IMHO
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There have been instances of semi trailer jacks getting caught on grade crossings. Different things can cause this, and it might have happened here.
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| Posted by TMW on July 13, 2005 | |
Erick could be right, give the truck driver a break, i have seen cases where trucks get snagged, look at the angle of that hill they are on, if the train could stop right on top of that crossing, they either A) Saw him there far in advance (thus meaning he was stuck) and put on the brakes, or like others say he tried to beat it. But then how is the train stopped right next to the actual incident?
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| Posted by Derek on July 13, 2005 | |
Now if it was a high speed collison and the locos back up wouldn't the beer be more scattered out and perhaps the pavement upder the truck would be wet. I believe from the picture that the train was traveling slow. It takes nothing to cut thoses trailers in half, all they are is sheet metal
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Closer examination, as Erick & Tim pointed out, would suggest that the crew saw the rig hung up from a distance and went into emergency at that point. I highly doubt that the NTSB would allow crews to back up after an incident and check out the carnage. I happen to drive a big truck 400 miles every night and concede that some of my fellow drivers out there aren't exactly rocket scientists, but come on, ease up a little guys. Not every road in America that has the potential to jack a trailer up is so marked. If the driver was truly "impatient" we'd all be reading reporting marks on cars, not looking at the power.
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Well was the beer ok?
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The "Remarks" I was waiting for was: "BNSF VS beer filled semi trailer, everyone was happy..." ;-)
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I agree with Jaret. According to railroad regulations, the crew of the train, wouldn't be allowed to back up. Mainly because, things could be under the engines which could possibly derail it, or tear more stuff up. Or perhaps poke a hole in the fuel tank if it was still whole. By the looks of thi photo, the trai wasn't going more than 10mph, 15 tops.
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Wow that was very scary for the train crew. Darwin Award Winner the truck driver.
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The truck driver couldn't win a Darwin Award if he wasn't hurt. Those are given posthumously in nearly all cases. :P
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Well, I'm glad everyone was OK. But that's a lor of good Coors Light gone to waste :(
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This is what happens when the truck driver samples the cargo before it gets to it's destination.
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I think this is a example of what happens when you drink and drive into a BNSF coal train. Nice shot Nathan
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After reading all very good comments, its great to know that nobody died. Just build another trailer, brew more beer, and life goes on. Great catch, Nathan!!
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As a railway employee, I see this way to often. These things can cause severe harm to train crews, and sometimes a crewman has to quit becuase of post tramatic stress. It's a real shame that some people can not wait a few minutes for a train to pass.
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Another reason why he couldn't back up is there was no one watching the back of his train. He could shove blind into a grade crossing and hit another car. BNSF rules state we cant back up at all without having the point protected. Did the driver get out before the truck was hit? Its clearly obvious the truck was stuck or stalled on the tracks and the crew saw it well in advance and plugged it. Not all grade crossing accidents are caused by stupidity just most of them. One more thing, I wonder how many volunteers they had to help clean up them mess. LOL.
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I told that driver this train wasn't going to fit in his trailer but did he listen?
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