Passenger Trains > Silver Star 91(2) strikes truck loaded with tires

1257pm ET today, posted to another rail discussion group by a member:

> Second try--first may have failed (Silver Star wifi goes on and off)..

> I'm on 91(2), just left Lakeland, hit the back end of a truck with a load
> of tires just a few minutes ago. Don't know yet if anything damaged or
> off tracks. Felt the brakes just before the collision. Truck cab looks
> ok.


No further information from him at this time.

91(2) is now a few miles east of Lakeland.

Media story:

On 5/3/2016 10:46 AM, 'John M. Scroggins' scroggjm@gmail.com [All_Aboard] wrote:

> Second try--first may have failed (Silver Star wifi goes on and off)..
>
> I'm on 91, just left Lakeland, hit the back end of a truck with a load
> of tires about 12:50 (edt). Don't know yet if anything damaged or off
> tracks. Felt the brakes just before the collision. Truck cab looks ok,
> no injuries. Amtrak not telling us much. We were already over an hour
> behind schedule.


Here is a media story:

Amtrak train hits vehicle near Palatka
WFLA
May 3, 2016


PLANT CITY, Fla. (WFLA) — Emergency crews are responding to a crash involving
an Amtrak passenger train and a tractor-trailer.

A Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson says the Amtrak passenger train and tractor-trailer
collided at U.S. 92 and Wilder Road in Plant City.

Preliminary information is that the tractor trailer was delivering tires to an automotive
business in the area and was turning into the driveway with the trailer on the tracks.
The Amtrak train hit the center of the trailer and cut the trailer in half, according
to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

The driver of the semi was not injured. Initially there were no injuries to the eight
employees and 90 passengers on the train, but three people were later transported to
a local hospital.

Amtrak train hits vehicle near Palatka

 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/16 14:29 by GenePoon.

Not your doing, Gene, but Plant City is not "by Palatka".

Update from aboard 91(2) tells of train operating at reduced speed, and failed air conditioning
in the sleeping car:


> 91(2) is moving slowly, seems about 4 hours late now, may lose more.
> Apparently there is headlight damage requiring a speed restriction.
> Conductor was trying to arrange for it to be fixed in West Palm
> Beach, but I don't know if she has an answer yet. We passed the
> wreck scene on the way back to Lakeland from Tampa and could see the
> two halves of the trailer on opposite side of the train.
>
> Meanwhile, everyone has been moved out of the sleeper I was
> in--hotter inside than the 90 degrees outside. And they have kindly
> given us all boxes of crackers and cookies.
 

toledopatch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not your doing, Gene, but Plant City is not "by
> Palatka".

Better than my not knowing where "I-O-WAY" is!!!

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,4022639

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/16 17:19 by GenePoon.

The "Star" is jinked.Already running 1 1/2 hrs late,then this happens.
Seems like after they took the diner off the "Star" has made a lot of news
all bad.
It has only been a few weeks that 92 died at Auburndale.The train was delayed
so much it left Jax in the morning,hours late.And if you go back before that
same thing.

Uncle Joe,15 miles West of accident.

Sounds like the Rubber met the (rail)Road.

chakk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sounds like the Rubber met the (rail)Road.

Hitting rubber tires sounds like it should be a lot softer than hitting lumber or steel beams, though.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> chakk Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Sounds like the Rubber met the (rail)Road.
>
> Hitting rubber tires sounds like it should be a
> lot softer than hitting lumber or steel beams,
> though.

Maybe not. Most of these were truck tires mounted on steel wheels. But yes, much better than steel beams or freshly cut saw-logs.

Danny Harmon
Tampa

Video of aftermath:

https://youtu.be/m_-uxOmulpo