Train Operator Injured When Train Rips Semi Truck in Two

April 16th, 2010 |

WATSONVILLE, CA – A train brake operator was injured when an 18 wheeler big-rig was torn in two Thursday afternoon on April 15, 2010 when it collided with a train on West Beach Street. The truck strew hundreds of gallon buckets filled with frozen strawberries across the road, blocking traffic for about five hours.

The truck driver was traveling eastbound on West Beach Street near Industrial Road around noon, Watsonville police officer Lee Katich said. The train was backing up on the north side of West Beach, heading south. The semi truck was traveling slower than the speed limit witnesses told officers, before it crashed into the train.

Officers said there seemed to be some conflict regarding whether the railroad warning lights were on at the time of the collision.

“There is no arm there, just lights and bells,” Katich said. “The truck driver said the lights were not on, but the train people said they were on. The lights were on when I got there.”

Katich said police will review video from witnesses and investigate the cause of the crash. The train’s brake operator had minor injuries. No one else was injured in the crash.

“There was nothing but the rail between him and the truck,” Katich said. “When they collided, he flew off the platform. He had a minor shoulder injury, but he was taken to the hospital.”

The roads were blocked for about two hours before the westbound lanes were reopened. The truck driver contacted co-workers to assist in cleanup with forklifts

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Alia Wilson from MercuryNews.com contributed to this story.

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