Semi hit by train after sliding off I-80, onto railroad tracks in Summit County, UT

[2naSalit]

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah, Jan. 1, 2023 (Gephardt Daily) — One person was injured in Summit County on Sunday afternoon when a semitrailer slid off the freeway and onto railroad tracks, where it was hit by a train.

The crash happened about 3:45 p.m. on Interstate 80 at mile marker 176 near Emory, according to a Facebook post from the Park City Fire District.

“A semi went off the freeway and onto the train tracks. The semi was then hit by an oncoming train,” the post states.

One person was treated at the scene and was transported to an area trauma center in stable condition, fire officials said. The extent of their injuries was not disclosed.

https://gephardtdaily.com/local/semi-hit-by-train-after-sliding-off-i-80-onto-railroad-tracks-in-summit-county/

A couple more pictures at link.

[Kid Berwyn]

1. What a harrowing experience.

Driver is fortunate to have survived.

[2naSalit]

3. PTSD inducing event!

I think I would require a lot of counseling after that. I have been through that canyon countless times and had mini-nightmares about such an accident. If it's where I think it was, yikes. The weather was really bad there at the time. I was once shut down right at the junction during a storm like that, decades ago. Met my spouse there during the shutdown.

So, as you can kind of see in the pictures, the roadway runs parallel to the tracks and is higher than the tracks at that spot. Sliding off and onto the tracks is about the worst case scenario right there. The only worse thing would be a little ways up the road where the tracks are higher than the road and to have a derailment tumble into traffic on the Interstate, that would be worse.

[Emile]

2. Truck driving is one of the most dangerous occupations

in the world.

[2naSalit]

4. Yes it is. ...nt

[LuckyLib]

11. And some states allow drivers as young as 18 to drive semis

across state lines.

[MyOwnPeace]

5. Unless it was to be a 'local'.........

that trailer should have been on that train........

[2naSalit]

6. ?

Not sure what you mean.

[MyOwnPeace]

7. The train was a COFC (containers on flat cars)......

not sure if that was a 'container' or a conventional trailer (trains also run Trailers On Flat Cars). Trains pulling them are some crazy number more efficient per mile delivering the containers or trailers.
But, yes, a truck must ultimately deliver it to the final destination.

[A HERETIC I AM]

8. Every trailer that is economically feasible to be carried by rail...

Some distance of its travel, already is.

And it’s clearly a semi trailer, not a shipping container that got hit by the train.

[2naSalit]

9. +1

[liberaltrucker]

10. Echo Canyon west of Evanston, WY

Can be really nasty in winter.

[2naSalit]

13. You should have seen it back in the '70's.

[liberaltrucker]

15. Before I-80?

I can only imagine.

[2naSalit]

16. When the route...

Up Heber Canyon was called I-80N instead of I-84 and there was no dam and reservoir to the south of the interchange/Interstate. It was a pretty snug little canyon in there. Just after you get established heading north from I-80 there used to be a diner called the Cozy Cafe where many a truck would stop for food and a place to park and sleep. The road has been widened considerably and there was no rest area halfway to I-15.

I have a friend who lives down there and I went through there a few times about six years ago and was stunned at the changes.

[Renew Deal]

12. Has this caused an airborne toxic event?

[lpbk2713]

14. An 18 wheeler is no match for a freight train.

It's a stroke of luck no one was killed.

[LeftInTX]

17. It may have had to do with the way the semi was on the tracks

The train split the cab from the trailer, so I think maybe the impact was on the hitch and sent the cab in one direction and the trailer in another. Just guessing.