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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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Well, think of the bright side...I bet the deer are relieved.
My condolences go to the families involved in this tragedy.
Sick.
Can't believe none of the vets saw that train coming..."the organization demonstrates support for members of the military and seeks to bring public awareness of hunting and fishing..."
truly sad
The Federal Railroad-bought Association inventory for this crossing shows 15 mph track speed limit and a 24
...Tracy Scott, a Midland oilfield worker who did not witness the crash but arrived at the scene later, told Reuters the train did not derail, but continued to move roughly half a mile past where the collision occurred before coming to a stop...The Federal Railroad-bought Association has track speed limit as 15 mph and a 24 hour a day quiet zone. 8 of 10 collisions here are listed with more than a 15 mph train speed. The railroads charges for vehicle assault in 8 collisions can be found?
This is terrible news. I'm so sorry to hear this happened.
As horribly tragic as this accident is, most vehicle-train accidents are caused by vehicle drive error.
This Is Unbelievable!!!!!!
Is this a nightmare? Am I really awake??!!
Trains are going to come regardless of who is on the tracks. Were there no safety precautions at this crossing - like flashing lights or would that be considered "gubmit interference"?
Drive defensively and think ahead.
Don't start over railroad tracks until there is enough room for your vehicle on the other side.
Lesson learned?
This news article is worded wrong it should have said truck carrying vets stops on railroad tracks and hit by train.
This is so sad. But seriously - I never understood how people can get hit by trains unless it's done intentionally. I mean, what is so hard about looking both ways when crossing a train track?
OMG! I am from Midland. How awful. I am SO sorry. God Bless everybody.
Although tragic, I hope they are not looking for more Federal funds to pay for this.
Hmm. On their way to a banquet to celebrate opening of deer murder season? One would think they had enough of slaughter during service or were they desk jockeys? Everything about this story is tragic. Condolences.
What a horrible tragedy, in what could have been such a joyous occasion. Especially so close to Thanksgiving...
We have a few RR tracks in our town crossing the main streets. I always tell my kids to NEVER stop on the tracks. If you can't get across then wait until you can. This is the fault of the driver who stopped on the tracks.
I am absolutely disgusted by all these negative posts. I live in Midland and we are all in mourning over this tragedy. Placing blame so soon after this happened benefits no one, especially the veterans and their families..the blame game can come later. I can assure you though that everything possible is being done to assist everyone affected by this incident. In fact, people had to be turned away from the blood bank last night because hundreds showed up to donate blood. People are offering up their houses, wondering where to donate food, money, and anything else that may help ease the burdens for the families. One thing I will say about the citizens of my "small, hillbilly town" is that we are completely devastated by this, but we are rallying around these soldiers and their families to help them in any way that we can. I could not be prouder of my community for the outpouring of generosity and support for the heroes affected by this tragic event!
it is a RAILROAD CROSSING! Stop, look, listen! Don't cross the tracks until there is space available on the other side! Enough said. Put the blame where blame is due. Can't teach stupid.
Not to belittle the loss of life, truly, I don't understand news organizations saying, "Train hits veterans trailer" when 1) a train is on a track and cannot divert its course, 2) is of such a weight that it cannot possibly stop within a short distance, 3) has warning signals for pedestrians and drivers for their safety, and 4) uses huge horns that can be deafening up close and heard as well miles away. News organizations can assist in making a change in public perception by changing the headline to read, as in this case, "Veterans trailer driven in front of oncoming train." Then perhaps, over time, we can help deliberately and subliminally deliver the message that drivers cannot ignore signals, horns and an oncoming train whose engine alone weighs 265,000 to 410,000 lbs depending on its type, and save lives as a result. STOP when a train is approaching. The engine weighs as much as a 747 [358,000 lbs]. Think ... and yield.
Thank you, thank you. It is always hard for me to see the headlines that make it look like the trains fault. My husband is a railroader and I hate that people don't get there is nothing he is going to do that can prevent him hitting a car if it is on the tracks.
Again, I would ask that the train crew be remembered at this time too. They might not be physically injured but they will be mentally and emotionally traumatized. They need support too at this time. This is going to be much harder on them then hitting a car because they could see the people on the back of that truck and they knew that no matter what they did they weren't going to avoid them. Please Midland, find out how you can support them as well.
Last week in Killeen, TX a Ft. Hood soldier drove around the crossing arms and got hit by a train. He and his girlfriend were killed. Apparently new soldiers and old soldiers still haven't learned to obey the law and not drive around crossing arms.
Why do people continue to think they can beat a train? Would any of these soldiers jump in front of an Army tank and expect it to stop in time?
unfortunate that this happened. perhaps its time that we stop these daily vet parades and tributes. last i checked we have a voluntary military and those that wish to join do so of their own free will and know what they are getting into.
They say the train hit the trailer as if it had a choice. The problem is that the trailer was on the tracks. I'm always amazed by car/train fatalities. Did you not know that the tracks were there for the train? Did you not see the lights and crossing gates? Good heavens. We were taught never to start across the rails until you had a clear path to get all the way across them.