Home / Disasters and Accidents / Train Collides With Truck, Diesel Spill Prompts Hazmat Response
Train Collides With Truck, Diesel Spill Prompts Hazmat Response
4 Jun
Summary
- An Amtrak train hit a stalled semi-truck, rupturing a fuel tank and causing a diesel spill.
- The truck driver was trapped on the tracks with the crossing arm down before the collision.
- No injuries were reported on the Amtrak train with 235 passengers and crew aboard.
An Amtrak passenger train collided with a stalled 18-wheeler at a Durham, North Carolina intersection on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred just before 10 a.m. near East Pettigrew and Ramseur/Grant Street. The collision resulted in the truck's cab being crushed and a saddle fuel tank rupturing, causing a diesel spill that required a hazmat response.
The truck driver recounted being trapped on the tracks with no warning of the approaching train. The crossing arm had come down, trapping the cab. Despite the severe damage to the truck, the driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital.
The Amtrak Carolinian No. 80, traveling from Charlotte to New York, reported no injuries among its 235 passengers and crew. The train was able to resume its journey approximately two hours behind schedule. Investigations confirmed that the crossing systems were functioning correctly at the time of the incident.
This event highlights ongoing concerns about grade crossing safety, particularly in urban areas with complex access points. Transportation safety advocates note that such collisions are a persistent national issue, with numerous incidents reported annually, leading to fatalities and injuries.
