Train derailment leaves behind big mess
By
KGNS News
Story Created:
Mar 4, 2010
Story Updated:
Mar 5, 2010
A train derails just north of Laredo near the visitor’s bureau, leaving a huge mess on the access road of I-35.
Authorities are now trying to piece together the accident.
So far it appears a truck, crossing in path of an oncoming train may have been the reason for the derailment but officials with the trucking company have a very different story.
“We heard the hit first it was really loud next thing we know there’s the cars coming down on the ground,” says Juan Bitella.
Witnesses looking on as authorities deal with a mangled mess.
At least nine union pacific box cars piled up along I-35, brand new Chevy trucks crushed inside.
“It was just a piece of metal going down on the road we were parked over there hoping nothing would reach us.”
Three people were injured in the accident.
The Webb County Sheriff's Department is now trying to determine if the driver of a utility truck was at fault.
Patterson company officials say he's not.
A company spokesperson tells us that the truck was already clear across the railway when the train came and clipped the back of the trailer, causing all of this.
“This train comes 50-60 miles a hour there’s no lights on this because this is a private road, “ says Alfredo Licon of Patterson UTI.
Without any signs to use as a guide, Licon says it’s difficult for drivers to know how close they still are to the train because of the slope.
He says it’s not the first time one of his vehicles, already clear of the path of an oncoming train has been clipped and dragged.
“Its not the last time its gona happen either.”
Union Pacific crews were out investigating the incident and had no comment.
Three people, the driver of the utility truck and two people inside the train were all taken to the hospital.
Authorities say they suffered very minor non-life threatening injuries.
