UP head-on collision!

[Anonymous]

I was just watching the news and they said two Union Pacific trains collided head on spilling hazardous materials. its currently on commercial break, but ill post the details ASAP.

[Anonymous]

ok DETAILS!

Sadly one of the enginers died on impact...
It happened in TX (for got exact town...)
The hazardous material was clorine gas, no threat to nearby people.

[edblysard]

Up cliped a BNSF, BN was heading into a sideing.
One crew dead, clorine tank car punctured, at least two civilians dead from gas/vapor.
Happened outside of San Antonio yesterday afternoon.
Ed

[Anonymous]

where did you hear that? i always get jipped by the news on info!

[Anonymous]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Southwest/06/29/train.derail.ap/

[Anonymous]

From UTU Site

UTU member killed in Texas crash
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AP) -- An engineer was killed when two freight trains collided in a rural area, and authorities were investigating whether the crash -- which sent a cloud of toxic fumes into the sky -- had anything to do with the deaths of two women nearby, according to the Associated Press.

Heath Pape, 23, of San Antonio, and a member of UTU Local 756, died in the collision, which derailed 40 cars. Six people had to be airlifted from the scene. The San Antonio Express-News reported that two of the injured were hospitalized in critical condition.

Members of UTU's Transportation Safety Team have joined investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board at the scene to assist in determining the cause.

About 50 people were hospitalized Monday after being exposed to chlorine gas and ammonium nitrate from leaking rail cars. The gas clouds dissipated by late morning, after drifting up to 10 miles to San Antonio's SeaWorld amusement park, where six people were treated for minor respiratory irritation.

Bexar County Medical Examiner investigators were trying to determine whether the deaths of an elderly woman and her daughter were linked to the collision. The bodies of the women were found about a mile from the crash site by search and rescue crews in hazardous material gear, who went door to door after the crash.

The women were identified by medical examiner's investigator James Akers as Gene Hale, 85, and her 59-year-old daughter Lois Koerber. It was unclear how the women died.

"We're not necessarily making any association between this and the derailment," San Antonio Fire Department spokesman Randy Jenkins said.

The collision occurred when a Union Pacific freight train struck a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train, said Joe Faust, a spokesman for Fort Worth-based Burlington.

Union Pacific spokesman John Bromley said his company's train was traveling at about 20 mph at the time. He said 23 of the 74 Union Pacific cars derailed. Seventeen Burlington Northern cars derailed.

No evacuations were ordered, but two heavily traveled roads were closed.

(This item was distributed June 29, 2004, by The Associated Press. Additional material was added by UTU editors.)

June 29, 2004

[rrnut282]

Sorry to hear about this. Was this signalled or dark territory? How busy was the track?

[Anonymous]

I tried to get to the accident here in San Antonio this morning and I was told there are a few yes few cars still leaking Hazmat and the main road is closed to the sight (old Pearsal road) from route 410. The report from the UTU member is very complete. but I believe what I was told from a cop that the BNSF train was on the main heading west and the UP train also heading west struck the BNSF train that was clearing in Mc Donnah siding was struck on the rear at high speed (I don't know what this is) and 40 cars and 4 locomotives are involved. I heard the news this morning from John Bromley that they suspect something in the Spring Dispatching center again I dont know what this means but. This is a crying shame that the UP had another bad wreck about a month ago here in San Antonio at tower 112 with 2 locomotives down in the SA river. trains striking other trains in the technical age is impossible........er isn't it?? You can send a man to the moon but you cant stop trains from striking others.....Is human error involved in all of this.??? 5 years ago we had a head on at Devine, Texas on the UP 3 I believe killed I have slides of this one too lap track warrent. I have been in the railroad business 53 years now in engine service both as an Locomotive engineer and Road Foreman of Engines and Transportation Manager so I do know what I see, and it sickins me. I was on WOAI TV news yesterday and they did let me tell it like it is I was suprised at this.
Hogger

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the conductor was only 23, just starting out on his career I suppose.

That's really too bad.

[edblysard]

Well, not to put too fine a point on it, but I would rather hear just about any other piece of railroad news other than something like this....

Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by Brak710101

where did you hear that? i always get jipped by the news on info!

[JoeKoh]

I agree with Ed.My condolances to the family.
stay safe
Joe

[cherokee woman]

Yes, let's all pray for them in their time of deep sorrow. May God comfort them.

[eolafan]

Very sad, and ironic at the same time as I just heard UP put a coal train on the ground big time earlier today or yesterday and wrecked EMD demo unit 72. My heart goes out to the family and friends of the deceased.