Raw Video Loop of Maryland Truck/Train Collision

More complete video here, showing through the explosion:

 

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50147930n

 

Looks like the truck driver didn't even try to stop and look.

Look and tell me if you are seeing the same thing that I am? HINT: It is not moving.

Yep!  Clearly the truck driver's fault.

Collisions with fire is a severe risk to the innocent train crew. Has anyone heard if the crew is okay?

 

Yes they where OK, according to reports over on Train Orders. Apparently the Conductor & Engineer thought VERY FAST, and uncoupled the two units once the saw the fire, and got way away from the train, fire, and subsequent massive explosion.

Thanks Hot Water.  That's very good news.

 

 

Good to know the crew is OK. 

Two questions:

1. In California, if you approach a non-signaled grade crossing and can't see for 400 feet in either direction you're required to stop. Does Maryland have a similar requirement? From the film it was pretty obvious that visibility down the tracks was severely limited.
2. Did the driver survive? Looks like a no in that situation.

Last I heard the truck driver (and owner of the company) was injured and in the hospital.

 

Rusty

From the film it was pretty obvious that visibility down the tracks was severely limited.

And that is exactly what I saw!

 

A number of years ago on our line, NS cut back the brush and trees from road crossing to give more visibility to motorists. They also placed STOP signs at all private road crossings.

 

As a motorist, this same type of situation pops up numerous times along our roadways. Ornamental bushes, trees and even road signs are placed at corner intersections blocking the view of oncoming vehicles making intersections unsafe.

Regardless of the visibility up and down the tracks (which cannot truly be determined from the video due to the angle and distance), the truck driver, operating on a private and unmarked access road, bears full responsibility for assuring--or failing to do so in this case--that it was safe to cross the tracks.  I doubt anyone can disagree with that.

 First car I ever struck,one of the things the lawyers argued was an obstruction in the way of the motorist involved,but the stop sign he failed to observe was after the so-called obstruction.

 The ballast pile they were referring to was well in the clear of the right-a-way and and on railroad property.

Crew is fine.  Truck driver in the hospital in serious condition.  Driver and company being investigated for repeated safety violations.  He was due in court last month on another charge.  One story suggests he did not show; another says he got new court date.

What am I missing?  All I see is a train going by in one corner of the screen.

I agree 100%....but the public's knowledge of the dynamics around railroading is so lacking it's scary. (see above) Many folks, even 'professionals'  think a train is just a big truck and if needed they can hit the brakes and stop much like an 18 wheeler. If you check YouTube videos of crossing incidents, they are not accidents, you see people comment 'why didn't the train stop' as if it's a car. 99.9% of us here have a basic understanding, and respect, for the largest moving obects on earth.

The largest moving objects on dry land, anyhow. If you think people are disrespectful of trains, you should see some of the hijinks people pull in small boats running in front of big tows on the river. The Coast Guard even had a couple of their small boats come out the week before last to demonstrate how scary it is.

 

It all comes down to this: mass in motion does not stop on a dime, but most people do not understand that.

--Becky

what caught fire and exploded?  looked like a pretty hefty bang.

My personal guess is the acid mixed with the chlorate, forming a cloud of chlorine dioxide and that is what actually exploded.  Sodium chlorate is normally a fairly benign hazmat.

Curt