Wednesday, April 8, 2015

4,500 GALLONS OF FUEL UP IN SMOKE WHEN UNION PACIFIC TRAIN COLLIDES WITH MILITARY TANKER TRUCK NEAR DATELAND, ARIZONA; UNION PACIFIC EMPLOYEE HURT, FUEL SMOKED, 2 TRAIN ENGINES DAMAGED. MARINES NOT TOO PROUD ABOUT THAT.






APRIL 6, 2015

DATELAND, ARIZONA (AP)

A Union Pacific employee was injured after a train collided with a military tanker truck in southwestern Arizona.

The crash around noon Monday closed Interstate 8 in both directions for about an hour near Dateland, about halfway between Gila Bend and Yuma.

A Yuma County Sheriff's spokesman says the train was hauling automobiles and the tanker was trying to cross the tracks at an uncontrolled crossing.

The train struck the trailer portion of the fuel truck, causing the cargo of about 4,500 gallons to catch fire.

Authorities say the two front engines of the train were heavily damaged.

They say the cause of the incident is under investigation and the Union Pacific employee was transported to a Yuma hospital for treatment.

Three Marines in the tanker truck escaped injury.  We bet they are not too proud about this mishap for which they are 100% responsible.