Amtrak Passenger Train Collides with Semi-Truck in Corcoran
An Amtrak passenger train, the 701 San Joaquin from Bakersfield to Sacramento, collided with the trailer of a semi-truck Thursday morning near the intersection with Avenue 144 in Corcoran, California.
Fortunately, the train did not derail and nobody was killed due to the crash. The train came to rest nearly a mile from the accident scene.
Although the train track intersection is controlled, the tractor trailer had entered the intersection before the control arms had closed the intersection. The driver was forced to stop at the intersection with Highway 43 due to oncoming traffic, leaving the trailer on the tracks.
The Jurewitz Law Group is happy that no deaths or serious injuries resulted from this trucking accident. However, this accident serves as a reminder of a very important lesson--never enter or cross a railroad crossing unless you can safely proceed through the intersection. Often, car drivers are caught on the intersection with a train bearing down on them when they could not initially cross the intersection. It is far safer to wait until it is safe to proceed completely through.
