The truck became “high centered” as it approached the track, becoming stranded atop the small hill that the tracks were on. Video taken by witness Tee Sae, indicates that the truck seems to have the front end dipped down, while the back wheels have risen in the air, unable to propel the truck off of the track. (Picture on right is from after the collision, taken from source video website)
Videos were taken from both sides of the train during the accident: One perspective shows the truck driver running onto the tracks signaling for the train to stop, while on the other side, a passenger in another vehicle is recording a video of the Stryker armored troop carriers on board just before the collision. The second perspective also shows the unhinged semi roll into the road just in front of oncoming traffic the recorder’s car stop a mere 20 yards before impact.
According to operationlifesaver.ca, it can take trains that are extremely heavy and long, this one in particular over a mile long, close to their length to stop. Unfortunately it seems, the train engineer did not see the truck until it was too late, and although the train honked its horn a dozen times, nothing could be done in the brief period of time until the impact.
Thankfully, the semi-truck did not contain any chemicals or petroleum, only mixed nuts, and no one was harmed in the collision. One can only imagine the aftermath if a gas or dangerous chemical truck had been stranded on that railroad.
Fortunately, no one was harmed in the collision, and even more surprising is that no cars were harmed when the semi was shot into traffic from the tracks.
Incidents like this make us question conventional ways that we build our infrastructure. Although tracks are built on hills for a variety of reasons, it may be a good idea to expand the bases of these tracks so that vehicles do not risk bottoming out or becoming “high centered.”
Protecting the rights of truck and train accident victims for over 25 years. Learn more about truck accident claims at Auger & Auger, North Carolina’s premier truck accident law firm. https://www.augerlaw.com/truck-accident-lawyer/north-carolina/