Amtrak hits semi in Nevada

[Greg]

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=16111108

RENO, Nev. -- Two people were killed and about 20 others were injured in a fiery crash in rural Nevada when a semitrailer collided with an Amtrak passenger train.

An Amtrak spokesman says 204 passengers and 14 crew members were aboard the California Zephyr en route from Chicago to Emeryville, Calif., about 300 miles west of the crash site.

A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper says the big rig ran into the train around 11:25 a.m. Friday at a crossing on U.S. 95 about 70 miles east of Reno.

A spokesman for Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno says two people were in critical condition, four were in serious condition and three were in fair condition. The conditions of those taken to a hospital in Fallon were not immediately known.

2 casualties...

Dan wouldn't have been on this one, he should be traveling from SLC to Grand Junction tomorrow. Hopefully the crew are all OK, trains & semi's don't mix, sad thing is that happens all to often.

 

[Greg]

Wow, sounds like the driver of the truck actually ran into the moving train at the crossing! The gates, bells and lights were all working.

The vehicle that hit the train was a side-dump gravel transport truck, said Bob Knoll of the Reno Fire Department. The truck rammed into the second or third passenger car, causing a huge fire that quickly engulfed the cars and trapped some passengers inside.

From - http://www.rgj.com/article/20110624...tories?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Local News|s

 

[Herzog]

Wow, sounds like the driver of the truck actually ran into the moving train at the crossing!

Well that changes everything. Derp?
It's sad a couple people had to lose their lives over that.

 

[roverrocks]

One would think it was a terrorist bombing if you didn't know a truck had hit the train. Incredible. How fast was he going I wonder? Trying to outrun the train to the crossing maybe or just not paying any attention whatsoever?

 

[Greg]

Well that changes everything. Derp?
It's sad a couple people had to lose their lives over that.

For sure. Unless the truck driver had a passenger, which it doesn't sound like he did, the other person killed must have been on the train.

One would think it was a terrorist bombing if you didn't know a truck had hit the train. Incredible. How fast was he going I wonder? Trying to outrun the train to the crossing maybe or just not paying any attention whatsoever?

The destruction is amazing, I can't believe how torn up those cars are! Seeing the pics, I'm surprised more people weren't killed.

Most of the track out there is fairly straight, track speed for Amtrak is probably 79 MPH. By FRA rule crossing gates have to be down a full 15 seconds before a train enters the crossing, so even thought the train may have been running 80 MPH, the guy in the truck had plenty of time to see the gates and come to a stop. I'd guess he simply wasn't paying attention.

 

[TRNDRVR]

I lost at least one fellow employee in this wreck. This crew actually gave me our train Thursday night in Winnemucca, and are now dead the very next day.


ALL ASPECTS OF RAILROADING ARE NEVER TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY!!!


At the very least my job is dangerous. When shit hist the fan, it's deadly!!!

 

[Hickey]

I sure am glad it wasn't you Dan.

 

[rholbrook]

The death toll is now at 6 and they say 5 are still missing.

 

[Amy]

Wow this is horrible.

 

[TRNDRVR]

I can't believe that thing didn't go on the ground!

PS I've been out of internet service for the last 2 days. Trying to catch up on info from those who are in the know.

 

[Greg]

I can't believe that thing didn't go on the ground!

PS I've been out of internet service for the last 2 days. Trying to catch up on info from those who are in the know.

x2

I'm thinking that with the 300' skidmarks from the truck and the fact that the train didn't get knocked off the track, the truck must have been doing under 30 MPH when it hit the train car. IMO, of course.

You in Alaska now Dan? How was the drive?

 

[TRNDRVR]

You in Alaska now Dan? How was the drive?

I am in Alaska. Got here yesterday.

As for the drive? DON'T ever let me do that again.

Drive the Mirror Lake Hwy 35 times and you can consider that you've driven the Alcan. It's just another scenic road with lots of trees, lakes, and rivers.

.....but my 23 year old XJ with now 214000+ miles made me proud!!!

 

[Tacoma]

That's a long drive.

I'm heading up there in a few weeks, now that JetBlue flies there. I intend to use my flight privileges to the fullest extent possible. Always wanted to get to Alaska.