FELA Lawyer News Blog

WILLISTON, ND – On Tuesday, October 26 an oil tanker truck crashed into a train near Williston, ND, killing the truck driver.

Oil tanker catches fire after crashing into train in Williston, ND on October 26, 2010.

Williston is in Williams County, North Dakota in the northwestern part of the state about 228 miles northwest of Bismarck.

The crash happened at 54th Street, which is a dirt road, about 7 miles northeast of Williston. The crash occurred when the oil tanker tried to beat the train across the tracks and ran into the oncoming train.

Location of fatal train accident at 54th Street near Williston, ND on Tuesday, October 26.

The tanker caught fire as a result of the collision and the blaze spread to one of the rail cars.

According to Williams County Sheriff Scott Busching, the identity of the big rig driver who died as a result of the crash, has not been released yet.

No railroad workers on board the train were injured in the accident.

The city fire department was called in for assistance by the Williams County Sheriff`s Department to help control the fire. There was concern because one of the rail cars on the train contained sulfuric acid and isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Authorities said that complicated efforts to put out the fire.

It was a difficult fire to contain. The fire department was very cautious while fighting the fire because water reacts with sulfuric acid. Also, wind speeds reached 30 mph or more in the area because a blizzard was approaching, making matters worse.

The exact cause of the incident is not known at this time. It is believed that the truck was trying to cross the tracks when the accident occurred.

There is a lot of traffic on the road that the crash occurred on because it is the only access point for several oil wells that are located past these tracks.

Published by FELA lawyer news blog at Gordon, Elias & Seely, LLP

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