Wednesday, April 8, 2015

CSX TRAIN CRASHES INTO TRUCK THAT WAS STUCK ON TRACKS IN KINGSPORT, TENNESSEE. CALL 911 IF YOU GET STUCK ON RAILROAD TRACKS




APRIL 8, 2015

KINGSPORT, TENNESSEE

Police are warning drivers to call 911 if you get stuck on railroad tracks. They say a truck driver didn’t do that at 1am Wednesday, and caused a train crash.

Kingsport Police say a Freightliner tractor trailer was traveling south on Lilac Street between Fort Robinson Drive and Netherland Inn Road. That’s when the driver “chose to disregard the sign that clearly indicated a risk of high-centering his trailer” and attempted to cross the railroad tracks.

The trailer got hung-up on the raised railroad bed. The driver didn’t call 911. Instead, he tried to back up and an eastbound CSX train struck the tractor trailer.

That driver, 33-year-old William Chester French, Jr., of Atlanta, saw the approaching train and got out of the way. His truck got pushed into the railroad crossing signal, causing significant damage to the gate. The trailer was pushed about 1,000 feet down the tracks. No one on board the train was injured.
French was cited for failure to obey a traffic control device.

Authorities say, 911 dispatchers can notify railroad officials, who can temporarily suspend railway traffic until the tracks can be cleared.

If you get stuck, do not panic, just dial 911.  It is the smartest thing you can do.