Amtrak train, truck collide in North Carolina; minor injuries reported

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Reuters

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. Mon Mar 9, 2015 2:39pm EDT

(Reuters) - An Amtrak passenger train and a tractor trailer truck collided in North Carolina on Monday, derailing part of the train and causing non-life threatening injuries to some of its approximately 200 passengers, local authorities said.

The train had been headed to Philadelphia when it collided around noon with a truck that was hauling heavy equipment and apparently got stuck on the tracks in Halifax County, said Heather Joyner, communications director of Halifax County Emergency 911. ... All injuries reported so far are minor, she said. .... Emergency workers and law enforcement were still on scene getting passengers off the train, she said.

Amtrak said on Twitter it was responding to the incident and aware of reported injuries.

(Reporting by Colleen Jenkins in Winston-Salem, Letitia Stein in Tampa and Susan Heavey and Doina Chicau in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler)


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/09/us-usa-northcarolina-amtrak-idUSKBN0M51Y620150309

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I revised this from the original post. This new link makes clear in which state this happened and points out that this happened at a grade crossing.

Hat tip, Joe.My.God: Another Passenger Train Derailment

Amtrak train derails in Halifax County

Posted 1:00 p.m. today

Halifax County, N.C. — An Amtrak train derailed Monday in Halifax County at the intersection of U.S. Highway 301 and N.C. Highway 903.

The Daily Herald in Roanoke Rapids reported that the train collided with a transfer truck, and the train's engine was on its side. The other cars remained upright.

Amtrak train hits truck, derails near Halifax, NC

An Amtrak train collided with a tractor-trailer truck on the tracks at NC-903 and US-301 in Halifax Monday. COURTESY OF ABC11

Trainorders:

Amtrak hits truck in North Carolina

Florida - New York Train Derailed After Hitting Truck

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Judging by the axles, that was one huge load.

Someone has some splainin' to do.

[FBaggins]

2. Yep. It's a good thing the train was in pull mode rather than push

That lowboy & load look pretty substantial. Had it been a passenger car leading the way, the injuries would likely have been serious.

Someone has some splainin' to do.

I was going to say "Yeah... almost certainly the driver of the rig using very poor judgment in trying to beat a train"... but that's probably not the case. In watching the video (below), we learn that some witnesses said that the truck was stuck there for fifteen minutes and had a police escort. If so, there's someone in the chain from police to dispatch to the rail owner to the Amtrak crew that badly dropped the ball. If the report is accurate then there was MORE than enough time to stop trains on that line.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. Wow. Lots of blame to spread around for this one.

The belly of the trailer probably went turtle. And that's where it ended when Amtrak T-boned it.

[FBaggins]

3. UPDATE - It was caught on video!

http://abc11.com/news/amtrak-train-slams-into-truck-in-halifax/550657/