According to Trooper Cash with the Texas Department of Public Safety the accident occurred at 6:55 p.m. at the railroad crossing on County Road 622 in Liberty County. The location is just east of the Harris/Liberty County line.
Crews were loading railroad ties which had recently been removed from a track revamp at the crossing. Two 18-wheelers were on the north side of the crossing and one was on the south side. One of the trucks on the north side started to pull forward. As the driver of the 18-wheeler on the south side of the tracks saw this he pulled forward stopping on the tracks. At the same time a locomotive pulling several cars was eastbound on the tracks. Seeing the truck the conductor started blowing the horn repeatedly but it did not appear the truck driver heard it.
The locomotive impacted between the trailer and truck causing the tractor of the 18-wheeler to explode. The locomotive still with forward momentum pushed most of the truck minus it’s trailer and engine almost a mile down the track to County Road 621.
The unidentified driver was dead on the scene. The railroad crew escaped injury even though the front of the locomotive was burned.
Smith towing spent most of the night picking up what was left of the truck. The railroad will then push the locomotive to a nearby yard as it is not operational.
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