Car versus train at TMI

[88gta350]

I work in security at TMI and this morning (Tuesday) just before we were to leave (about 5:45 a.m.) we hear over the radio that a train has stopped and is blocking the south entrance to the island. 10 minutes or so go by and we get a report over the radio that a car has hit the train at the south gate. I don't know for sure if the train was stopped prior to the car hitting it, or if it stopped because it hit the car. The company will do a pretty thorough investigation and it will end up being far more informative about what happened and why than any news article about it. I'll post the results of the investigation when it's done, but I can take a pretty good guess at what happened:

The Royalton sub runs parallel to PA 441 from Middletown, only feet from the road. This doesn't leave much room when turning onto the island. This particular crossing has crossbucks and lights only, no gates. The train was likely stopped already. They've been stopping a lot because of the Amtrak upgrades going on in the area (the Royalton sub breaks off of the Harrisburg-Philly line at Middletown/Royalton). The car was probably travelling south on 441 and made the right hand turn onto the island. It being dark at that time of the night, he likely ran right into the side of the train upon making the turn. Either didn't pay attention to the lights, or didn't have time to react to them upon making the turn.

I have no word on whether anyone was injured, but I heard on traffic about 2 hours later that the crossing was clear and the accident had been cleaned up.

You heard it here first! If anyone sees any news articles on this, I'd be interested in seeing them.

[blhanel]

TMI = Three Mile Island?

[88gta350]

QUOTE: Originally posted by blhanel

TMI = Three Mile Island?

yes

[samfp1943]

I guess this is more justification for reflective marking on the sides of railroad equipment, I do not know how you protect against pure inattention from motorists. Photon torpedos?

[blhanel]

Force field generators mounted on every railcar.[:D]

[trainboyH16-44]

Anti-stupididty thinking caps.

[88gta350]

An update: I got some more info from the day shift when I came into work tonight. The car was hit by the train, not the other way around. Apparently, the story I'm hearing is that the car in front of the victim pulled out to beat the train and made it, the car behind him saw this and went as well but wasn't as lucky. Smacked the rear end of his pick up and sent it flying into another car. Pieces of the truck struck a third vehicle. No one seriously injured. Apparently the guy is claiming he didn't see the red lights because it was foggy, but when I left that morning (just after the accident happened) it wasn't foggy, and even if it was, at night those lights would be visible through fog. And there's always the horn that he should've heard. Will post more details or results from invetsigation when I get them.

[locomutt]

Blind,as well as stupid;Me thinks that person should not be driving at all.!
Hopefully there weren't any serious injuries,there shouldnn't have been any at all!!