Deaths reported after train crashes into trailer during Texas veterans parade

[Poll_Blind]

Source: Fox

DEVELOPING -- Multiple deaths and dozens of injuries were reported after a train crashed into a trailer carrying veterans during a parade in Texas.

At least four deaths have been reported and at least 17 people were injured, 10 of them critically.

A flatbed 18-wheeler truck was reportedly carrying 24 veterans and their spouses for the "Hunt for Heroes" parade in Midland when it was hit by a train.

--snip--

He says there are "multiple, multiple" injuries and organizers still are trying to account for everyone.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/15/train-reportedly-crashes-into-trailer-during-texas-veterans-parade/

---

(image from story at link)

More at the link as the story unfolds. What a nightmare!

PB

[Brickbat]

1. There are gates there -- WTF?

[efhmc]

2. How horrible. Can't even think how this might have happened.

[DollarBillHines]

3. You can see for miles in Midland.

What the hell was that driver trying to prove?

[defacto7]

4. The gates, the lights working,

the train horn blowing, the truck still going through.... something is missing here.

[LisaL]

8. I am guessing the gate closed after the truck already moved into the tracks.

[TwilightGardener]

9. I read that in the comments on one news article--that the second

parade float was stopped on the tracks by traffic in front of it and then the train approached and the gate arms came down on them. I feel bad for the vets, but also for the train crew. The truck driver screwed the pooch and killed his passengers.

[defacto7]

11. That makes more sense

but that would make it the truck drivers fault. You are not supposed to enter a train crossing with a truck until all possible obstructions have moved. In other words, you have to see what's going on ahead and know you can cross unhindered before getting anywhere near the tracks.

It's such a terrible accident.

[Ash_F]

14. I still don't quite understand how this happened.

Even if the arms came down, how could they stop the truck from getting out of the way? I have seen a vehicle hit one of those gate arms before. They snapped right off.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

21. If there was a line of traffic

Maybe the truck driver couldn't go forward or back up because of traffic. It's still the truck driver's fault, should have made sure he could clear the tracks before venturing into the intersection.

But I'm sure he knows that.

[Ash_F]

23. Kind of makes sense but he could have cut the wheel hard and gone off the road.

They were about to get hit by a train, who cares about staying on the road? The area looks relatively flat from the picture so I doubt it would have been obstructed. Maybe he didn't think of it in the heat of the moment

[snooper2]

29. exactly, or push the fucking cars in front of you, you just don't sit there..

One stupid human in control of something he/she shouldn't have been.

[LisaL]

31. Considering all the people were sitting in chairs on truck bed, pushing the cars in front

sure as hell doesn't sound safe either. In addition, I believe it was another similar size truck in front of him, not cars.

[snooper2]

32. we can break this down pretty easily, get hit by a big ass train-

Do anything else-

Here is what you can do with a semi when you aren't worried about scratching the paint-

Start at 1:40 in video-

&feature=related

[LisaL]

33. Unless we can invent a time machine, it's a pretty pointless argument.

And considering there were people sitting on truck bed, a truck pushing a truck in front of him could still have resulted in injuries.
From the standpoint of traffic rules, you shouldn't move into the railroad tracks until you have enough room to safely cross them.

[LisaL]

30. I have no clue how he could have gone of the road.

Presumably he shouldn't have been attempting to cross the tracks until the way was clear.
I guess we have to see what investigation shows, but presumably train has the right of way.

[ManiacJoe]

40. Yes, the train has the right of way.

Legally and physically.

[Ash_F]

41. After seeing some new pictures of the scene....

It looks like the train just barely tagged the back end of the trailer so they were almost clear. I was just trying to figure out what the driver was thinking. I guess he thought that he had pulled forward far enough. But almost wasn't good enough and we had this tragedy.

[jberryhill]

26. It was in the middle of a parade - there was no room to turn out

Someone planned a parade route over a grade crossing.

[silvershadow]

5. I don't quite get this story yet...What were 24 veterans doing already aboard a trailer if they were

not on the parade route? Surely a parade route would NOT cross a RR track. Why didn't the veterans board the parade vehicle at the starting point? Oy, my head hurts.

[Poll_Blind]

7. From what I read, these were "wounded warriors" and so their mobility may have been...

...severely limited. In other words, it may have been easier to get them onto the float at the original location. Also, I believe this was a real small-town kinda thing and I think what may have happened is that they all climbed aboard and kind of rolled through some areas as-is before the proper parade started.

Those are just some things I'm putting together. Don't know if I'm putting them together correctly, though.

PB

[TwilightGardener]

6. How the HELL do you not see a giant intermodal train

in flat treeless daylight-sunny Midland, Texas bearing down on you? Blowing its horn, ringing a bell, no less. Teh stoopid.

[jberryhill]

27. It was in the middle of a slow moving parade

Everyone saw the train. The driver was blowing the horn to get the vehicle in front of it to move.

[jsr]

10. Most likely caused by Texas-sized idiocy

[Skittles]

12. please - there's a time for that and it surely is not here

this is extremely tragic

[MisterScruffles]

13. Not funny

Not at all.

[AngryOldDem]

16. -1,000

I've NEVER understood this kind of post when people die.

Not funny.

[RandiFan1290]

17. Don't worry

Most here are overly sensitive about Texas. If this was a Florida story they would be laughing with you.

[kentauros]

36. No, we wouldn't.

It could have happened in your home state and we still wouldn't have been laughing

[efhmc]

18. Was waiting for it and you came through with the usual

hate. Low even for your group.

[cordelia]

19. Disgusting.

[Paladin]

20. Feel Better, Now?

[truthisfreedom]

15. Pure tragedy.

I'm sure the driver will face horrific charges, but the entire story is pure tragedy. RIP to those who died, best of luck to those injured and my wishes for a speedy recovery, and thanks to all for your sacrifice to our country. And on behalf of my less sensitive DU associates, I apologize. Fall in line, DUers. This is nothing to make fun of.

[Aerows]

22. Awful for everyone involved

How did the driver not see the train coming?

[happyslug]

24. Huffingotn Post report with more pictures

Last edited Fri Nov 16, 2012, 10:55 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/15/train-crash-wounded-veterans-parade-texas_n_2140886.html#slide=1765995

Armarillo Times:
http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2012-11-15/amarillo-veteran-dies-midland-train-crash

[Ash_F]

25. Looks like they were almost clear

...and the train caught the end of the trailer causing it to fold to the left and probably crushing people who had just dismounted. Maybe the driver thought he was clear?

[Blue_Tires]

28. That organizer is gonna get sued for his next four lifetimes....

Absolutely NOTHING looks safe about that seating arrangement at all, even if moving at "parade idle" speeds...

?1353028984294

And if the itinerary meant they had to cross train tracks, then it is up to the organizer/driver to plan ahead and at least get the timetable of expected crossings...

[TwilightGardener]

34. Had they called Union Pacific beforehand, the engineer and conductor

would have gone at a restricted speed thru the area and would have at least had a heads-up.

[Blue_Tires]

37. Even before that...

Just setting people on a flatbed to get pulled by that big-assed rig? IMO it's negligent to put able-bodied people on there, but the disabled(!?)

[TwilightGardener]

38. Yeah, really...what could go wrong with tying down

a bunch of dining-room chairs to a flatbed trailer and hauling amputees and the wheelchair-bound around town and over active railroad tracks?

[Brickbat]

35. Thinking of the train crew today.

[TwilightGardener]

39. Yes--I know they are probably traumatized and

must feel awful--in fact, many train crew members are veterans, themselves. Railroads are one of the biggest employers of former military.