Passenger Train Smashes Into 18-Wheeler Three people are recovering Wednesday morning from injuries sustained when an Amtrak passenger bound for New Orleans collided with an 18-wheeler.
The incident occurred Tuesday night in Bessemer, Alabama.
Sixty-six people were aboard the train en route from Birmingham to New Orleans when the accident occurred.
Authorities are not sure whether the truck stalled on the tracks or if the driver failed to look both ways.
According to police, the train engineer, an Amtrak employee, and the driver of the truck were injured in the crash.
The train resumed its journey to New Orleans after a two-hour delay.
posted
I had not heard about this. Was it a rural crossing with no lights or gates?
Posts: 874 | From: South Bay (LA County), Calif, USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
I thought the Sunset was shut down between New Orleans and Orlando from 3-16 to a week or so. Everytime I called to check on my train I had to talk to someone cause of a "service disruption". Maybe it was just train 2 going east rather than train1 going west.
But anyone that challenges a train is an idiot.
Posts: 168 | From: Spring TX USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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The train in question is actually The Crescent; Bessemer is just southwest of Birmingham. The part that puzzles me (I haven't had time yet to check further) is the reference to "Tuesday night" - the Crescent should have passed that point by mid-afternoon even if seriously late.
Posts: 72 | From: Tennessee | Registered: Feb 2001
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There wasn't a crossing gate at the accident site. I wonder how many more accidents it will take before they put them up on crossings like these. This sounds like the City of New Orleans accident several years ago, although this was a lot less tragic. An 18-wheeler with a load of steel... The driver in THAT accident should have lost his license forever.
Posts: 553 | From: Flagstaff, AZ USA | Registered: Apr 2001
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Eric- I saw a news article within the past month that said the NTSB found the truck driver at fault for the City of New orleans crash at Bourbonnais, IL. Did not hear the status of his license. MP
Posts: 874 | From: South Bay (LA County), Calif, USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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MPALMER- Yeah, I think I remember reading something about it, too. Before the accident, the driver had had his license suspended, and I believe it wasn't the first time.
Posts: 553 | From: Flagstaff, AZ USA | Registered: Apr 2001
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