posted
At about 10:30 p.m. our train hit a tow truck in Goshen, Indiana. Split the tow truck in half and imbeded the tow truck on the front of our engine. 2 passengers in the truck were killed. Our female engineer was injured and taken by EMS to hospital. We now have power restored, - lights, air, no working toilets, but are still stuck here. I am in a lower sleeper and we could feel the wreckage hitting the bottom of the train as we were braking very hard. We are told that the tow truck will have to be cut off of our engine. The smell of diesel is very strong. At impact we could smell burning rubber and fuel.
Amtrak is sending a new engineer and has not, as of yet, decided to bus us.
I can't believe I have internet access here in the middle of nowhere!! I will try to update here if we get more news.
Posts: 30 | From: Rio Rancho NM | Registered: Feb 2005
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Gee, nothing like a first hand report. I would like to believe that if any one was wise enough NOT to cross the tracks in front of a moving train, a tow truck? My condolences to the families.
Posts: 229 | From: Long Beach CA | Registered: Jan 2007
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Thanks for the on-scene report. If past history is any indication as far as time, you will most likely be there for quite some time. Besides the damage to the engine and getting the vehicle removed, there is also a mandatory requirement to wait for the coroner. Sometimes it's quick, sometimes it's slow. And of course, the accident investigation itself. Plan on at least 3 hours for this one (that's my best educated guess).
By the way, if the toilets don't work, then perhaps some of the debris you heard under the car knocked out a pipe or something. You might need to use the facilities in another car for the rest of your trip.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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It is now almost 5 hours later. Details are that the engineer, a 63 yr old male, is being released w/ some broken bone.
Vehicle was a truck towing a trailer with a motorcycle on it and they went around the gates.
One of our engines has a hole in the fuel tank and hazmat just left after trying to 'flush out the fumes'...whatever is meant by that. Supposedly they are going to disconnect the damaged engine & try to back us up, go around to Toledo & pick up a 2nd engine there.
Posts: 30 | From: Rio Rancho NM | Registered: Feb 2005
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For simpler accidents with little or no train damage - not this one - I'd agree with Smitty in my (unfortunate) experience. Two to three hours to clear away the mess, sort the paperwork, and off we went again. But this incident clearly has significant damage to the engine so is taking longer.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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quote:Originally posted by goldcupmom: Supposedly they are going to disconnect the damaged engine & try to back us up, go around to Toledo & pick up a 2nd engine there.
This is quite plausible, as one engine could easily handle the train, #30(14), from the scene to Toledo. An engine could be removed from likely 29(14) and either wyed and placed on the lead or not wyed and placed as trailing unit rear first. Since Amtrak normally (and wisely even if not aesthetically) operates all units forward in case of incidents such as this.
"Flush out the fumes"; let's defer to Mr. Andy Smith on that one - that's his profession.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Another case of "can't wait - go around the gate". I will never understand the "need" to rush through life to the point of making such ill advised risk taking choices.
Dee
Posts: 460 | From: North Central CT | Registered: May 2004
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quote:Originally posted by goldcupmom: Vehicle was a truck towing a trailer with a motorcycle on it and they went around the gates.
Injuries result after Amtrak train hits tow truck. Another Amtrak train hits vehicle in Goshen. Two fatalities result. Two Indianans killed, after being hit by Amtrak train yesterday.
How the media will *probably* write about the story...why does the spin almost always make it seem like the train was "at fault?"
Posts: 588 | From: East San Diego County, CA | Registered: Oct 2004
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quote:Originally posted by DeeCT: Another case of "can't wait - go around the gate". I will never understand the "need" to rush through life to the point of making such ill advised risk taking choices.
It's one of those weird things in life you just have to accept, and not try to understand. The senseless deaths I've been around in my career (first a firefighter/EMT in the 80's), followed by 911 dispatching, and then a career in law enforcement as a police officer, one thing is certain: this stuff has always happened, and it always will happen. I gave up trying to understand it a long time ago.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Smitty, thanks for your service in the tough three jobs you've mentioned. I've also seen countless train vs. vehicle/pedestrian accidents from the POV of an onboard/operations RR employee and there is a tendency to give up trying to understand them. The actual incidence of the "train being at fault" in these cases is almost infinitesimal; for example-- set of grade crossing arms/bells that does not activate when a train passes, and someone gets hit. Rare! Like what DeeCT says-- their "rush through life" to save a minute or two generally has a bad outcome, when trains are involved. Particularly bad when it turns out to be kids or teens...
Posts: 588 | From: East San Diego County, CA | Registered: Oct 2004
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You and I (and those who populate this forum)understand that a train can not stop on a dime. However, the average citizen when they read such stories or hear reporters on the local news, hear/view it as "the train failed to stop". Most headlines will word it as "the train struck and killed the pedestrian" not "the pedestrian was walking where they should not have been". For many, unfortunately, the question then becomes "Why didn't they stop the train." Thus It's the trains fault. Just wait until you hear the spin the Lawyers, hired by the families of the deceased, will put on this. Guess where they will assign blame.
Also sometimes those in the media do not make any attempt to check facts.
This little story appeared a couple of days ago in The Hartford Courant --- check the last paragraph and get a look at these "facts". I found it amusing --- (and they pay these people.)
posted
With many people when something adverse happen it is always someone else's fault. Those of you who were or are teachers probably know the "It can't be my child" syndrome. Then there is the woman who sued Macdonalds because when she spilled the coffe in her lap she got burned.To me the classic one is my own family. My aunt went into the living room to find my 3 year old cousin on his knees rear up in the air and head under a chair. She aked him if he was eating the marshmallows again. He had white stuff all over his face and gave her a very innocent look and said "oh no it was the other little boy". That is what many people say it is always the other little boy.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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Train lady...I am also familiar with that syndrome. I taught for 33 years. The next generation follows through with the same syndrome. I should not complain about parents because I also had my share of some terrific ones. Bringing up kids is not an easy task. But learn not to to push the blame somewhere or on someone else.
Posts: 498 | From: New Hope, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Our car attendant (a fav here from #30) viewed the engine video of the crash & said it was 'only by the grace of God' that we were not on our side or burning. Said it was the worst seen in his 30 yrs w/ Amtrak.
Worst is that it was a purposeful meeting of train & LARGE diesel tow truck pulling flatbed w/ cycle on it. Apparently woman in truck had no connection w/ driver other than her cycle being towed. VERY SAD!!!
We were at site for 7.5 hours, then the backed us for about 3 hours back to Elkhart, pulled off 1 engine. In Toledo they gave us 2 freight engines. We were over 13 hours late to DC.
Crew on train was wonderful! Passengers were not! Complaining about everything!! Since #30 usually only has breakfast on day they arrive DC, in Toledo they loaded Subway boxed lunches for all 250+ passengers. Then in Pittsburgh they loaded a hodgepodge of food - I suspect from other trains from what the cook was telling us - for dinner on small thin styrofoam plates w/ prepacked plasticware.
Engineer was male - a female passenger was treated for diesel inhalation at site. Engineer broke bone in shoulder.
We were met in DC at 2:30 a.m. Those traveling on on Amtrak were talked to 1 at a time, then individually(by group) given $15 cab fare to HI Express. DD & I were one of the last & when we arrived HI, a line of about 10 in front of us & 4 behind were told 'no more rooms' - this was 4 a.m. Hotel called Amtrak who came out in vans to take us to a comfort inn. Arrived there just after 5:30 a.m. Amtrak expected us to eat breakfast at the hotel - which closed at 9, then skip lunch before our 3 p.m. train. Neither happened, so that was an expense each passenger incurred. They would not budge. I will attempt to send in receipts.
That and the lack of organization at the Cust. Svc office when we had to go over to get our luggage transfered to the new train were the worst. They simply could not figure it out! Took us over 2 hours & I had to don a hard hat & go w/ a baggage guy down below to identify my bags & help him tag them for new train. And, they still DID NOT MAKE IT!!!!!! Ended up in Tampa instead of here in Lakeland.
Also, the sleeper attendant on 91 did not want to let DD & I on the train, w/ our tickets in hand as he said he could not allow us to board since our names were not on his printed list from the conductor & the person's name in that room just was a 'no show' & room had to remain empty. He finally relented, but EVERY single time he walked by our roomette, he commented that we 'were not supposed to be there'. When I asked for him to bring us breakfast as DD was still sleeping (we had less than 6 hours sleep in about 52 hours) he argued that it was not allowed & I would have to wake her to go down to diner if we wanted to eat. After LOUDLY challenging him, he finally relented.
Other than that, Amtrak handled it well. My concerns I will address in a letter to them along with my praises.
Posts: 30 | From: Rio Rancho NM | Registered: Feb 2005
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