‘It Was Terrible’: Train Obliterates Tractor-Trailer Headed for Electrical Plant

A CSX Transportation freight train smashed through a tractor-trailer stuck on tracks at a railroad crossing Thursday morning in Haverstraw, New York. Footage of the incident shared on Twitter showed the truck standing…

IJR SyndicatedFeb 25, 20233 min read

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“The operator was still inside on his phone, trying to make arrangements, I guess, to get himself off, did not realize that a train was actually coming northbound,” Capt. John Gould of Haverstraw Police told WCBS.

“Our sergeant actually alerted him and got him out of the vehicle in time,” Gould added.

“Driver was shaken up, but physically appeared OK. He was evaluated by the paramedics, as well as the train conductor,” Gould said. “Thank God the only thing that was damaged was some property which can be replaced.”

According to police, the truck had bottomed out on the crossing due to its heavy cargo.

“Whatever the load he had on was quite heavy. Just the contour of the road, the bed of tractor trailer got stuck, kind of scraped, which made him stop,” Gould said, according to WCBS-TV.

Hector Rivera, a witness, described the incident as “terrible,” according to the news station. “Gotta be careful. Railroad crossings are dangerous,” Rivera said, WCBS-TV reported.

In a statement shared with WCBS-TV, CSX confirmed that it was aware of the collision and that the company was working with law enforcement on investigations into the incident.

“This could have been a horrific tragedy, but smart thinking and quick action, including blocking other cars and pedestrians from entering the area, prevented that outcome,” Rockland County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. said, according to WABC-TV.

“I’m sure the driver of the truck and the driver of the train are shook up and I hope they’ll both be okay,” he added.

“It’s no surprise to me, and I’m sure many others, that the community really pulled together because that is what Haverstraw is all about,” Hood said.

Haverstraw Mayor Mike Kohut said that the town was fortunate the train was not transporting hazardous materials, as crashes at crossings bring the risk of Trains derailing, Westchester Journal News reported.

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.