The Minnesota State Patrol this week released dashcam video footage showing a truck driver ignoring crossing warning lights at a CN crossing in Minnesota. The video is unusual in that it is a complete record of the event, from the truck driver failing to yield, his rig being struck and dragged down the tracks, and a state trooper rushing to the truck and locomotives.
The incident happened on Jan. 20 when Minnesota State Patrol Sgt. Jeff Shay pulled the truck over for an inspection near a railroad crossing south of Mountain Iron. When Shay completes the inspection, he returns to his car and the truck pulls away. Incredibly, the driver then drives straight ahead and into the locomotives of a northbound train going through the crossing on the former Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range, even though the crossing lights are flashing and the train is sounding its horn. The train dragged the truck about a quarter mile before it stopped. Shay then drives up the right-of-way and checks the truck and locomotive cabs to make sure no one was injured.
The train crew can be heard asking Shay about the condition of the semi driver. You can hear them say that they weren’t going fast and had blown the train’s horn “way early.” The semi driver was cited for failing to stop at a railroad crossing. There were no serious injuries from the crash; although the 67-year-old truck driver suffered a cut near his eye, the Patrol said.
“This incident highlights the ongoing need for drivers and pedestrians to always be aware of their surroundings and cautious around all railroad crossings,” Sheryl Cummings, executive director of Minnesota Operation Lifesaver tells Trains News Wire.
“The driver refers to another crossing with which he is familiar and this too, illustrates an important point that one should always expect a train because becoming complacent, distracted, or impatient can have disastrous consequences,” Cummings says. “We are not only grateful for the health and safety of the driver, but also the opportunity to educate the public about how to make safer decisions around tracks and trains through the release of this footage.”
Canadian National Spokesman Patrick Waldron says the railroad is aware of the video as well.
“CN works with Operation Lifesaver and others in the industry to spread important safety messages throughout North America about the dangers of trespassing and the importance of crossing safety. Crossing safety is included in our 10 easy tips that can save lives. That includes number 4 — look for signals and respect them,” Waldron says.
I like what Jeremy Schultz said. what has happen to the truck driver and how is the train crew is doing.
I wouldn't necessarily call the truck driver stupid as others who have commented have said but he certainly was in a frame of mind where "use caution" was not part of his thought process. We can all learn from this example!
God bless our cops!
Brandon, I have been pulled over. When I leave the stop, I am extremely careful, as I know the officer is still there.
If being pulled over makes you "upset/angry/scared or whatever," maybe you need to check yourself.
I just showed the video to my drivers ed. teacher and she said that it was crazy and the video well be showed tomorrow.
(I am retired from a railroad) Riding a train to check out that portion of railroad, I watched a PATROL CAR run in front of the train. I got the number, etc. and notified our Supt of Safety. I only hope that was followed up with the patrol people.
This truck driver must be related to the idiot I saw in Granite City, IL today who drove around crossing gates that were already down and across six tracks as a train was coming. He almost got caught out when another vehicle partially blocked his exit on the far side. I was rather hoping the train would clip the rear of his car so I could furnish a photo to the police.
Whuups, yeah for sure you betcha. Time ta change da undawear.
I am not defending the truck driver at all. What I think happened was the driver was just really upset/angry/scared or whatever from being pulled over and simply just wasn't thinking due to high level of anxiety. Have you ever been pulled over? It can be a scary and nerve wrecking experience. Not everyone handles it well.
Love the Minnesota accents. Feel like I'm watching "Fargo".
67 year old truck driver? There's few things sadder than someone who's old enough to know better, and doesn't.
Makes you wonder how many close calls that driver had in his career before his luck finally ran out.
So after watching this video I should be somewhat distraught, at the very least, but because stupidity is so commonplace these days, all I'm left with is a feeling of nostalgia for the good old 1980's due to the police officer's choice in music……"Out of my window…I can see them in the moonlight….two silhouettes saying goodnight…by the garden gate"……
I am in high school and am taking Drivers Ed. About a mouth ago we where going over railroad safety and driving over the railroad crossings. I will pass it on to my teacher tomorrow and ask her to show the video in class.
There was also the stop sign right before the crossing…can't tell if he stopped for that or not, but it looks like he didn't stop fully just maybe rolled through. He was going slow enough that there is no way that driver did not see the flashing lights. He was probably upset about the inspection and was not paying attention to what was up ahead, but to go from being stopped when the crossing lights are already flashing and driving right into the path of the train. Hard to understand why some people STILL are unable to process the concept of TRAIN TRACKS AHEAD, LIGHTS ARE FLASHING, GATES ARE DOWN, I AM SUPPOSED TO STOP. Also kudos to the officer..running to see if the truck driver and train crew were OK and just acting concerned about everyone, plus he listens to good music!
At least no one was injured. The driver is going to get a 60 day vacation. Grade crossing violations carry a mandatory 60 day suspension of CDL privileges for a first offense. This is enforced by FMCSA upon notification of the accident irregardless of any state actions.If a driver tries wants to avoid this penalty, they have to prove their case(ie the driver was blameless) to USDOT.
Wouldn't it be nice if drivers of 4 wheel vehicles had this penalty.
She would be ready but she'd always make him wait. He'd end up blowing all his wages for the week, just for a cuddle and a peck on the cheek. Come dancinnnnn….
I have investigated multiple accidents of this kind. A semi-trailer rig driver accelerating from a stop with the windows closed at a signalled railroad crossing without gates can see the flashing warning lights, but given the nosie level in the cab he may not hear the bell or the locomotive horn. The crossing angle is a factor in this one, given the roadway angle to the track and the viewing angle of the trucker in the cab.Traffic fixation on the vehicle ahead happens all the time and causes not only reflex reaction by the driver in the trailing vehicle, but can cause accidents of this type as well. I have seen this happen at signaled street intersections as well, with fatal consequences. This driver is lucky, and so is the crew. An accident similar to this one at a signalled crossing in a small town that I evaluated caused a crossing collision with a loaded semi that derailed and overturned the locomotives and the freight cars in a train moving at 50MPH. The locomotive struck the loaded trailer and not the tractor, so the trucker was uninjured but the train crew were both injured, and one of the two never worked again due to his injuries. The train had a loaded hazmat car several cars behind the locomotive in the pileup which necessitated a precautionary evacuation of all résidents with a 1.5km radius of the accident until the condition of the hazmat xar could be determined. driver actions have conséquences which can be unforeseeable. See tracks, think train. All the time.
Its nice to know the radio station that the officer listens to.
hopefully the moron driving the truck lost his job.
"waive?"
Mr. Darwin in action!
Unbelievable, except it happens all the time. There have been many news reports of of Operation Lifesaver where the local police ride along with train crews that show people disregard horns and warning lights, even people who walk right in front of the train. Thank heavens no one was hurt in this case, too often the results are not as good.
The train crew is probably thanking their lucky stars that truck was not a fuel tanker!
Mr. Norton, If you've been following OTR trucking developments, "PTC" for trucks is already under consideration. I, myself, am skeptical of it, but there are folks in trucking management who are pressing very hard for autonomous (self driving) trucks.
What we need here is PTC "Positive Truck Control." Every truck cab shall be mandated to be equipped so that in the event a driver does not acknowledge a grade crossing gate the truck automatically brakes and stops. Said in jest but in another 20 years of the "nanny state" who knows?!