See Train Crash Into Semi Loaded With Cars On Oklahoma Crossing
There were minor injuries for five people on the train.
An astonishing video shows the chaotic scene when an Amtrak train strikes a stricken car hauler near Thackerville, Oklahoma. Five of the train passengers suffered minor injuries and needed to go to the hospital, according to the Fire Department of Love County. The truck driver and his dogs were not hurt, but the Love County Sheriff described them as "shaken up."
Judging from the video, the train is moving very quickly when it strikes the car hauler. The impact launches several vehicles high into the air, and the trailer explodes in shards of shrapnel. Afterward, vehicles are everywhere, including one on the tracks. Another one is smashed hard enough to be an unrecognizable heap of twisted metal.
Gallery: Amtrak Train Hits Car Hauler
The instigating incident for the crash was when the car hauler became high centered on the train tracks and was unable to get out of the way, according to the fire department. In the video, you can see a person jumping and trying to get the train conductor's attention. After the crash, this person runs to the truck. It's not clear, but this might be the driver.
The collision was hard enough to cause the front of the locomotive to derail. This resulted in damage to the rail bed.
Amtrak hired local school buses to transport the train's occupants to hotels in the area. For people who were going to nearby destinations, the company charted vehicles to take folks where they were going. The company later uncoupled the locomotive and transported some passengers to Fort Worth, Texas.
Pictures also show the damage inside the train's passenger car. The collision was hard enough to break windows and twist the upper storage area.
The fire department said that it had people on the scene for 5.5 hours. The photos show wrecked cars littering the area around the tracks, requiring extensive recovery.
Sources: Storyful Rights Management via YouTube, Love County Sheriff Office, Fire Department of Love County
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
F1 Star Kimi Antonelli Reverses Mercedes-AMG GT Into A Wall Before US GP
Lamborghini Unveils The Temerario Tettonero With Striking Two-Tone Styling
Stolen Corvette C7 Grand Sport Recovered After Five Years Underwater
Who Actually Invented The Drive-Thru? It's Complicated
VW Polo Rear-Ends Bugatti Tourbillon Prototype, Video Shows The Moment
Ford Has A Clever New Idea For Storing Spare Tires
Amazon Cargo Jet Skids Off Runway, Stops Feet From Parked Tesla Cybercabs