Train collides with Texas parade float of wounded veterans; at least 4 dead, 16 injured

[Newsjock]

Source: Odessa American

The Midland Fire Department and Midland Police Department are on the scene of a collision between a train and an 18-wheeler, which was a float for Hunt for Heroes, at Industrial and Garfield in Midland.

"Obviously we have a really bad situation out there and we're just trying to wrap our arms around it and get the facts," Union Pacific spokeswoman Raquel Espinoza said.

... According to the chief of the Midland Police Department there were 4 fatalities and 16 injured in the train and parade float collision in Midland.

There were two confirmed fatalities and multiple injuries in the train crash during the Hunt for Heroes parade, according to the Midland Reporter-Telegram.

The train collided with a trailer full of veterans during the parade just before 5 p.m., the Midland Reporter-Telegram stated.

Read more: http://www.oaoa.com/news/traffic_transportation/vehicle_accidents/article_83f04e96-2f7a-11e2-be81-0019bb30f31a.html

[hr]
http://www.mywesttexas.com/top_stories/article_c16ee4ee-2f7a-11e2-a12b-0019bb2963f4.html

The Show of Support events for tonight and the weekend have been canceled after a train crash during Thursday’s parade.

There are four fatalities and 16 people have been transported to Midland Memorial Hospital, said Midland Chief of Police Price Robinson.

A float carrying veterans and their wives in the ninth annual Show of Support parade was struck by a eastbound train at the corner of Garfield Road and Industrial Avenue just before 5 p.m., Robinson said.

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

1. No whar but Texas.

Tragic planning failure.

Prayers for the families of the lost and injured.

[cherokeeprogressive]

5. Wow. It took you only 8 minutes to turn a tragedy into a dig about Texas.

Hope you're proud of yourself. I think that's some kind of record. Pat yourself on the back. Bookmark your post. Share it on your Facebook page. You're AWESOME.

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

16. I lived in Texas the first 35 years of my life

so I speak from unfortunate experience.

[txdemsftw]

12. You're pretty classy.

[tosh]

2. Tragic.

Such a shame.

[patrice]

3. oh dear!

no words for this horror, uh . . .

can't bring myself to diminish it with a smilie either . . .



p.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. Beyond horrible.

No words can express my sorrow.

[w8liftinglady]

6. Dear God,My sister lives in Midland.

[gademocrat7]

7. How terrible

[rustysgurl]

8. Praying for Them All

This is just horrific - my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families and all involved.

[InsultComicDog]

9. sad

[Marrah_G]

10. That's horrible........

[hollysmom]

11. There are a lot of accident on non-raised tracks.

Most of the tracks in my town are street level, but we are down to one train a day and that goes through 10 PM pretty much everyone knows that, so I don't think we have ever had an accident.
How horrible for them.

[Purveyor]

17. In this case, I think it was the raised tracks that caused the lo-boy trailer to bottom out, lifting

the trucks rear tires off the pavement preventing it from going either forward or reverse. Most truck drivers experienced with the lo-boy trailer watch for this situation like a hawk.

This happened just a few miles south of me here in Jackson Michigan our the first of the year.

Here is the story:

Amtrak train crashes into truck in Jackson County

Ten people were injured Wednesday morning when a westbound Amtrak train crashed into a semi tractor-trailer rig, the Jackson Citizen Patriot reported.

The driver of the semi-trailer and the conductor of the train along with others were taken to Allegiance Health with non-life threatening injuries, Blackman-Leoni Township Public Safety Director Mike Jester told the newspaper.

Jester said the semi-trailer, a lowboy trailer, was stuck on the tracks as the train approached the crossing at Portage Road near E. Michigan Avenue.

There were 68 passengers and five crew members on the westbound train, Amtrak said. The engine and two cars derailed in the crash, officials said.

Erik Swanson of Pontiac, who suffered a back injury, told the newspaper he was sleeping and the collision knocked his seat loose.

The Amtrak train that runs through Jackson County makes a stop in Ann Arbor on its way from Pontiac to Chicago.

The track was damaged and the route will be closed for some time, Jester said. Amtrak was making alternate transportation arrangements for passengers.

Norfolk Southern, which owns the tracks where the crash occurred, told the Citizen Patriot it would investigate the crash.

MORE...

http://www.annarbor.com/news/amtrak-train-derails-in-jackson-county/

[hollysmom]

18. I probably used the wrong words here - when I said raised, I meant elevated.

Most cars and trucks pass under the tracks. As opposed to road level.

There have been kids hit in near by towns where the trains run more often.

It is always a tragedy, no matter how it happens.

[dem4ward]

13. Was Cheney driving?

[Fire Walk With Me]

14. Oh no :(

[txdemsftw]

15. That is so sad..

Those poor people.