QUOTE: Originally posted by kwboehm It was just after midnight after Christmas, 2002 (0008 hrs, 12-26-2002) and I'm working for the Sheriff's Office. The night is pretty dead up until then. Then my radio pipes up.... Disp: Plattsmouth 92017 Me: Go ahead Disp: Check the area of 4th St. and the railroad tracks in Greenwood. received a report of a car on the tracks at that location. We're attempting to contact Burlington Northern at this time. I tell them 10-4 and start that way. As I get going, I look down at my clock in the patrol car...0010hrs. I think to myself, "Amtrak usually goes blowing through there at 79 (I've clocked them faster) about now. I grab the radio... Me: 92017 Plattsmouth...you better get a hold of BNSF really quick...I think Amtrak should be going through there any time, also check with State Patrol to see if they have anyone closer. (I was about 15-20 miles out) While en route I hear State Patrol pipe up, "I'm alongside Amtrak right now and we're going through Ashland" (about 7 miles from my call) About then dispatch calls me on the radio... Disp: Plattsmouth 92017...just had contact with the railroad...they advised that Amtrak is going through Ashland area and are unsure if they can get stopped in time. At this point I was wishing I knew their frequency so I could at least hear what was going on on the RR side thru my scanner (I since found out that info). About 8 minutes after the initial dispatch I slide up to the scene, realized I'm parked a little closer than I want to, so I back up and park on the train side of the car (for obvious reasons) and set my in-car camera to record. I look down and the train is about a mile away, which gave me enough time to run up to the car to make sure no one is still inside drunk & passed out, which there was not. About then the trooper that was only half the distance away finally shows up and starts yelling at everyone to get away from the tracks. So I'm thinking, "Oh boy, this is gonna be cool to watch". He too has positioned his patrol car to get a good angle with his camera. The gates go as I head for cover and i take one quick look and the train looks like it's a ways form the crossing, so i thought he was still coming at a pretty good. I see it as it crosses the road before our, and he's at a crawl. He dims his lights and stops about a block short of the car...disaster averted. Turns out the driver was not drunk, but had missed a curve just before the grade crossing, causing him to attempt to cross the tracks at a less-than-desirable location. He made it across the grain elevator spur and the 1st main, but was caught between the two mains. It's not the first accident of that sort that I've been to at that location...just the only one with a train barreling down on it, and so far the only one not aided by alcohol or other substances. (I know kind of a blah ending, but was one hell of an adrenaline rush at the time.)
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").
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