Eastern Railroad Discussion > Truck / Train collision in Lakeland Florida last night

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-polk/lakeland/train-crashes-into-tractor-trailer-stalled-on-tracks-in-lakeland

Ed Stewart
Jacksonville, FL

Looks like the train in question is Q177

Posted from iPhone

Having  never  driven  a  truck.. do they stall  easily??  Is it  a  shifting  problem?  Lousy old  truck? Bad  driving  skills?  I  think if  I drove  a truck I would  be  sure all in  working order near  railroad crossings. Like  clearances etc.

Another report indicated that the trailer became disconnected from the tractor at the crossing and the driver was trying to reconnect and move it.

This could be a defective fifth wheel on the tractor, a defective kingpin on the trailer or a vandal could have pulled the trailer release lever while the truck was stopped (Drivers should do a 'pull test' with the trailer brakes on before leaving a parking lot to insure the trailer was not released by vandals while parked). It is possible the shock from a rough crossing could have disengaged the trailer too.

Michael

Florida has a lot of "hump back" railroad crossings. Some are four to six feet above the highway level.

Trailers can hang up, I suppose the hitch could come undone under the right circumstances.

Posted from Android