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Subscribe to RSSFour people were killed and 17 injured when a flatbed trailer carrying twelve veterans and their spouses during a Midland, Texas, parade was hit by freight train as it was crossing over railroad tracks. NBC's Janet Shamlian reports.
Updated at 8:04 a.m. ET: A train crashed into a tractor-trailer carrying wounded veterans and their spouses in a parade in Midland, Texas, killing at least four people, authorities told NBC News.
At least 17 people were hospitalized, city officials said. Twenty-four veterans and their spouses were on the tractor-trailer, according to the Midland Reporter-Telegram.
NBC station KWES of Midland said the tractor-trailer was part of the Show of Support / Hunt for Heroes parade carrying veterans and their spouses to a banquet in their honor. The benefit dinner was being put on by Show of Support, Military Hunt Inc. in Midland on Thursday night, according to the organization's website.
Cory Rogers speaks with TODAY's Savannah Guthrie about his friend retired Army Staff Sergeant Joshua Michael, who died while saving his wife when the float they were riding in a Texas parade was hit by a train.
Midland police spokesman Ryan Stout said the crash occurred at 4:36 p.m. local time when an eastbound train hit the flatbed trailer. He said the flatbed was the last of two in the parade attempting to cross the tracks.
"It's hard to look at. It's a very tragic event, very unfortunate," Midland Police Chief Price Robinson told Reuters.
James Durbin / Midland Reporter-Telegram
Bystanders react after a flatbed tractor-trailer carrying wounded veterans and their families during a parade was struck by a train Thursday in Midland, Texas.
The parade and banquet were leading up to whitetail deer-hunting trip for the veterans, according to the Midland Reporter-Telegram. Show of Support president and founder Terry Johnson told the KEWS that the events were canceled.
According to the website, the organization demonstrates support for members of the military and seeks to bring public awareness of hunting and fishing.
There have been 477 railway-related fatalities between January and August of this year, according to federal railroad safety data. Of those, 93 were related to Union Pacific Railroad, which covers 23 states across the western United States.
National Transportation Safety Board chairwoman Debbie Hersman tells TODAY's Savannah Guthrie that there were some forward-facing cameras on the train involved in Thursday's deadly collision with a parade float in Midland, Texas.
In a statement, Union Pacific spokesman Tom Lange said the crossing has a gate and lights.
“Our preliminary investigation indicates that the lights and gates were operating at the time. Additionally our two person crew sounded the locomotive horn,” Lange said.
Lange said the two-person Union Pacific crew was uninjured.
The National Transportation Safety Board told NBC News that a team has been sent to investigate the accident.
A train crashed into a flatbed trailer carrying wounded veterans at a parade in Midland, Texas, on Thursday. NBC's Mike Taibbi reports.
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Reading this is very sad because it is clear by some of the postings that people are more interested in arguing than they are in sending their prayers out to those that either died or lost a loved one. Grown up people and consider things beyond your own bigotry and dislikes and think about the fact that innocent people died as the result of bad planning or supervision. Think about them and not yourselves for a change.
Trains run on rails. Sometimes these rails cross roads that cars drive on.
They have these things, these "warnings", like horns, crossing guard arms, and flashing lights to let you know that a f-ing TRAIN IS COMING! How STUPID do you have to be to SIT on the damn tracks?!
My father works for the railroad and has to go out to scenes like this, take pictures of the carnage because you KNOW the dumbass that SAT ON THE TRACK DURING THE WARNING will try and sue the railroad like it's their fault!
Time and time again people, look both ways before crossing the street, and if you see the lights go on in the crossing, wouldn't it be best to just stop and make sure a train isn't coming?!
It's a damn shame what happened to these vets, and my heart aches for them, but I can not, will not blame the railroad for this. It was the driver's fault for going onto the track. Done!
I don't think anybody IS trying to blame the railroad. Where did you read that into the article?
The unfortunate part is that the railroad often does get blamed. People don't want to accept that the train couldn't have stopped in time. And often the railroad does get sued and they reach a settlement because their is no good way for the railroad to defend themselves from this kind of thing.
db: Here's a fifth grade math problem for you. A flatbed trailer that is 24' long has started across the railroad tracks at 5-10 mph. At 40 mph, how far away is the train before the gates trap the flatbed? At 40 mph, how long after the gates come down will the train hit the flatbed? Here's an easier question: What distance will a 150 car train, traveling at 50 mph go before it stops?
I don't think I've read a thread that has made me dislike people more. It is sad what happened to these people who have already had tragedy visit their lives. It is terrible some died and I hope those injured are not suffering. To those spewing your ideological bs I hope you never get injured or have tragedy hit you because you are most likely too stupid to remember what you have done here in this thread and I will be paying taxes to pay your hospitals bills so you can come back here and do it again.
Just ignore em.
I can't imagine how you could be having a parade and someone did not see this coming...were there no parade officials...no one told the rail lines there was a parade??? This will fall on someone's head and rightfully so.
For the love of God! This is a story about an accident involving a train hitting a trailer of vets. . . can we not blame either Obama or GOP for one @!$%#ing moment and focus on the tragedy that took place!
Well said!
Unfortunately WJM, people on both sides of the fence will throw political daggers, even if it was their own mother that died...
Democrats won. They have no reason to throw daggers. In 4 years republicans will have another chance. If they just hate Obama they can vote democrat.
Civilian life is as dangerous as war, it seems.
For those making light of or politicizing even as a joke, this situation you should be ashamed... Unless you've served, you'll never know what it's like or have a f'ing clue of what it demands or the balls it takes to do so.
If you think it is a joke and is so easy to do, go down to see your local recruiter (any service you like) and apply and watch as your hollywood and tv idiocy of the military is put to the test.
If I sound miffed, you bet! I witnessed 18+ of the 82nd Airborne's finest perish in the blink of an eye nearly 20 years ago and I still carry the scars of that day to this day.
Show some respect for those who do (and have done) what you are not willing to do!
To those of you politicizing this....you are sick. Disabled veterans who served our military in a parade, had the crossing barrier lowered on them while they were on the train track and got stuck. They were disabled and many of them unable to get off in time. It is a non-political tragedy. Please show the folks involved the respect they deserve.
Keep the veterans in your prayers but also say a prayer for the men running the train. Even though they did nothing wrong and could not have prevented this accident it is something they will have to live with for the rest of their lives. My husband is a RR engineer and has been in this position.
I live in Midland TX and saw this parade go by mintues before the accident, do not know why it happened, and it shouldnt have happend, but just some info for those who are wondering, the interesection that this accident happend has lighted interesections on either side of the tracks and plus the gates at the tracks themselves, Midland a few years back put into place an ordinace that does not allow the trains to blow horns while in city limits(so they would have not heard the train approaching until it was to late) also in the last few years, depending on the trains schedule some trains were giving the green light to cruise at speeds up to 60 mph through town, and i cant even count how many come through each day. The parade was small and heading from downtown to an event center to host a dinner, i believe the reason for slow trafic and maybe the float stopping on the tracks was due to police taking time to block both interesetion on either side of the tracks, this was 4:30pm in a very busy area of town traffic wise, also keep in mind those that say drive off the road, this was not a level crossing and barriers had been constructed to keep people from cutting aorund gates, also even if the driver did have taken off, all the vets on the back off the truck still would have been injured, eye witnesses said many were seen jumping off but some still injured by the debris from the crash, im sure we will find out more details as this is investigated but it is none the less a loss of good people. My prayers are with the family of this great community.
Regardless of the reason for the slow traffic the semi driver should not have entered the crossing until he was sure he could clear it completely. He should have learned that when he got his CDL. And they wouldn't have heard the train coming until it was too late even without the quiet zone in effect. Train horns and whistles are not designed to be heard if you are on the tracks, they project sound out and to the sides so that people approaching can hear them. Any railroader whose ever worked in a yard will tell you just how silent they are.
I've been doubting that the driver had a CDL. I'm wondering if it was a volunteer/amateur.
Also, I've been wondering whether the driver might have been either (1) suddenly incapacitated by a seizure or stroke or something, or maybe (2) somebody important or well-connected in the community, because they're sure doing a job of protecting him/her! No info whatsoever about the truck driver; zero. VERY tight lid on this story....
Sure wish we could get more FACTS.
Trains are often delayed and unpredictable on certain times of crossing. This is a busy area, trains and roads alike. Just pray for those involved and leave all the "Nobama" crap for another story. That makes me sick!
Actually, compared to cars and trucks, trains are VERY predictable; they're totally confined to TRACKS. They can't go gallivanting across the plains to surprise you. It's EASY to avoid colliding with them.
But I do agree with you 100% on all the political BS being totally inappropriate. (Bitter little minds at work; just ignore them)
TXModerat says: "The barriers went down over the flatbed of the truck and trapped the veterans as they were sitting there. They weren't able to get off the truck because most of them were disabled. It's a tragedy."
This makes sense - it's the ONLY reason this "should" have happened, because the driver would stop so the barrier didn't sweep everyone off the flatbed. HOWEVER, this isn't very safe anyway - they don't even allow people to be in a pickup bed unless they're strapped in. A blown tire, a need to take evasive action (like gunning it if the gate started coming down), or something else could happen.
Big problem though, sounds like the switch for the gate is too close to the crossing.
Good points all.
Someone is horribly responsible for this lapse of thinking. If you are going to have wounded vets on a flatbed you better know when the trains are coming and have a plan to avoid this totally avoidable tragedy. This is an abomination of planning.
ok so this a completely stupid question, and im not joking im serious, i honestly don't know. Ive always wondered why the trains cant break, and stop if they have advance notice? i know nothing about trains so please forgive my ignorance.
They weigh too much to stop quickly.
Train cars weigh about 100 tons each if they are loaded. The more cars there are the heavier the train and the longer it will take to stop. Just like a semi has a longer braking distance then a car.
Im sorry for the vets. The driver of the truck they were on is an imbecile. You never start over a set of tracks until you have more than double your length clear on the other side. That is simple common sense. The damn driver ought to be hung, and I don't give a damn about his/her feelings. I bet none of the vets would have done what the driver did.
This is not only very sad, it is pathetic.
A sad, tragic event. As a Long Haul Trucker now and Veteran who has a Hazardous Material Endorsement, when you are hauling Hazardous Materials and come upon a Railroad Crossing, you are supposed to pull into the right lane if one is provided, come to a stop 15-50 feet from the crossing, , turn on your "Flashers", open both windows so that you can hear if a train is coming and look both ways before crossing. I don't have an endorsement for Buses and the rules vary from state to state. If I am not mistaken, I think Buses that carry passengers must do the same at Rail Road Crossings. Now moving people on a flatbed trailer is not the same as a Bus that move passengers but in this case, I think it would be prudent to do the same.
God Bless the Innocent...
Also, you do not cross the tracks unless there is plenty of room on the other side to completely clear the tracks at the rear of your trailer.
Some people behind a tractor trailer wonder why they don't cross immediately when the cross bucks go up and that is because, if a Professional Driver is doing what they are supposed to be doing, they are waiting for that space on the other side to be clear to accommodate the full length of their combination vehicle.
In this world where somebody always has to take the blame because insurance companies are always involved you have to remember that sometimes the circumstances (if for just a brief period of time) align perfectly.
Accidents will happen!
This article is about an accident that involved wounded combat veterans and their families, I ache and feel for those injured and killed. I can only hope that those that died did not suffer more needless pain, and may those that are injured make a full and speedy recovery.
For those idiots and trolls wishing to make this a political issue, get over yourself and quit being part of the problem that is tearing this country apart. If you are not being part of the solution, you are being part of the problem and I would ask that you change your ways or please leave.
Really NBC? You follow up a video story about a horrific train crash with a video ad for CSX,a train company?! #toosoon
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I can see how this would happen here.
the trains go Thur that desert 60 to 70 miles an hour...my friend lives Right next to the tracks in big spring TX..they don't slow down for you..
Hindsite: If the town told Union Pacific there parade was taking place then there could have been restricted speed limits in place. Instead you hear the song and dance "the signals were working". It the Vet's. Tragic. Small town fast trains
no..its always been that way for years im from west texas
we have ask them if they would slow down going thru our town.they said no..freight is more important i guess
Who's we? Your town? There are procedures a town can follow for asking a railroad to change their speed limits.
Sincere condolences to all the victims in this. What a horrible tragedy.
I would have thought someone would see or hear the train coming. But I dont know the scene, so maybe it was a blind crossing? Sad, no matter the reason.