Train Accidents | veteran
Nov. 15, 2012 Four veterans were killed and 16 other people were injured when a train slammed into a parade float carrying the returning heroes to a banquet in Midland, Texas. The truck driver had been allowed to proceed for 34 minutes through a series of red lights, creating an expectation by the driver that he could proceed through a railroad crossing light, investigators said. The rail crossing warning system was activated 20 seconds before the accident, and the guardrail began to come down seven seconds after that. But the truck's driver was unaware of the danger
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Midland train crash
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 | This article is outdated. (May 2013) |
| Midland train crash | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Date | November 15, 2012 |
| Time | 4:36 PM |
| Location | Midland, Texas |
| Coordinates | 31.985629°N 102.093495°WCoordinates: 31.985629°N 102.093495°W |
| Country | United States |
| Operator | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Type of incident | Collision |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Injuries | 16 |
The Midland train crash was a rail crossing accident that occurred on November 15, 2012 in Midland, Texas. A freight train struck a flatbed trailer being used as a parade float carrying 26 passengers (12 of them United States Armed Forces veterans who had been wounded in action), killing four and injuring 16. The parade was en route to a veterans' benefit sponsored by the local charity Show of Support/Hunt for Heroes.
Accident[edit]
At 4:36 pm on November 15, 2012, an eastbound Union Pacific Railroad freight train traveling 62 miles per hour (100 km/h)[1] en route to Shreveport, Louisianafrom Los Angeles, California struck a flat-bed semi-trailer carrying 26 passengers that was acting as a parade float.[2] Of the passengers, 12 were US Armed Forces veterans that had been wounded in action, 12 were the spouses of the veterans, and two were civilian escorts.[3] The impact killed two veterans immediately and two more died later at Midland Memorial Hospital. Sixteen other passengers were injured.
Accident investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were dispatched to the accident to determine the cause. In a press conference on November 17, NTSB member Mark Rosekind stated that the float started crossing the tracks after the warning bells and lights had been activated and while the crossing gate was lowering. The flashing lights and bell had begun 20 seconds before the train entered the intersection, and 7 seconds later the gate began to come down. It was one second after that (12 seconds before impact) that the float began crossing the track. The train sounded its horn 9 seconds before the collision; seconds later the engineer also activated the train's emergency brake.[4][5] The NTSB based these conclusions on video evidence from a dashboard camera mounted on an escorting police cruiser, a forward-mounted camera on the train, and the train's data recorder.[4]
The identity of the truck driver, who survived, has not been released by NTSB investigators.[6] In an interview, US Representative Mike Conaway described the driver as a 24-year US Army veteran.[7]
On 20 December 2012, Union Pacific Corporation said that it will adjust the signal system at the crossing.[9]
Victims[edit]
The four veterans killed in the accident had all been wounded in combat overseas:[10]
| Name | Branch | Decorations |
|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Boivin | United States Army | Silver Star, Purple Heart |
| William Lubbers | United States Army | 3x Bronze Star, Purple Heart |
| Joshua Michael | United States Army | 2x Purple Heart |
| Gary Stouffer | United States Marine Corps | Purple Heart |
References[edit]
- ^ "NTSB: Train Was Traveling Under 70 Mph Speed Limit". Associated Press. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ White, Taylor. "NTSB to use Midlander's film footage". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ Palmer, Audrie. "Four killed, 16 injured in parade accident". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ a b "Officials: Vets' float crossed track after signals". CBS News. 18 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- ^ "Midland train crash: Float crossed as warnings sounded, NTSB says". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Warnings Flashed Before Collision, Probe Finds". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- ^ "Lights Flashed Before Truck Entered Crossing in Train Crash". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- ^ "Defense Secretary Panetta comments on Midland tragedy". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ "Union Pacific to adjust signal at Texas crash site". Reuters. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- ^ Farwell, Scott. "Many questions to answer after train strikes wounded veterans' float in Midland". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
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http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-ntsb-faults-parade-safety-plans-float-crash-with-train-20131105,0,5731456.story#axzz2jnEKbnAA
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