PECOS, Texas — The truck struck by a Union Pacific train in a fatal grade-crossing collision and derailment was on the grade crossing for just over 1 minute before the collision occurred, the National Transportation Safety Board said today (Dec. 22).
In an update on its investigation into the Dec. 18 accident that killed two UP crew members, the agency said investigators determined the timing based on surveillance videos.
The accident occurred about 5 p.m. Wednesday in downtown Pecos, with the collision derailing four locomotives and 25 intermodal well units, and sending the truck’s load into a nearby building [see “Two crew members killed …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 19, 2024].
In its latest update, the NTSB emphasized the importance of using the information on the blue emergency contact signs at every grade crossing to report potential safety issues. Trains reported on the blue-sign program earlier this year [see “Behind the blue sign,” Trains.com, July 16, 2024].
The NTSB also corrected some information it had previously released [see “UP train was traveling 68 mph …,” News Wire, Dec. 20, 2024]. Among the correction: the truck’s load was not a wind turbine base, but was other heavy equipment. The NTSB also corrected the name of the trucking company involved (Boss Heavy Haul, LLC), and that the truck was hauling a hydraulic platform trailer, rather than a low-boy trailer.
No further updates are planned, the NTSB says. Its next release of information will be a preliminary report, which should be released within a month.
Interesting. The video posted online shows that around 8 seconds before the collision, 2 police vehicles were there (one was a SUV, the other a motorcycle) the direction truck with his height pole attached, and 2 vehicles who stopped when the crossing lit up.
I guess my first thought was that the direction service should be checking which crossings are in route and touch base with the railroad operations center that an oversize load is schedule to cross their tracks at a certain time.