Passenger Trains > Amtrak hits pickup at Bristow, VA.

Southbound Amtrak hit a large pickup truck just across from the Bristow NS crew change facility, at the end of Milford Rd.
The truck was pushed into a large control box, trapping the pickup's driver. Driver taken to local trauma center with serious, life-threatening injuries.
Prince William Fire-Rescue responded at 9:20 a.m today.
Train #151, NYC-Roanoke, 137 crew/passengers, no on-board injuries, train has resumed service per Amtrak statement. Train was less than 5 minutes out of Manassas, VA. station.
Excellent video via FOX5 News chopper



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/25 12:56 by bigsavage.

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That was earlier today.  Has the family of the driver had enough time to file a lawsuit against Amtrak yet?

I'd guess that the ambulance chaser lawyers have already signed up the family and have filed suit against Amtrak,NS the 1st. responders and anyone else thay can think of. It's no wonder everthing costs so much what with our outdated legal system.  IMHO-Ross Rowland 

It's just very sad indeed that so many people across the nation get hit by trains because the do NOT obey the rules at grade crossings.  They ignore the blinking red lights to begin with and then they run around those crossings with gates.  They are in such a big hurry and they are so important that they cannot wait for a train to go by.  Sadly, we cannot fix stupid.  My condolences to the family of this driver.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

Topfuel Wrote:
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> That was earlier today.  Has the family of the
> driver had enough time to file a lawsuit against
> Amtrak yet?

Tsk tsk, these trains, being somewhere they shouldn't

Uh, not so fast there. No "blinking red lights" at this one. Looks more like a driveway/private crossing situation. Yes, I know the stop look and listen rule and lecture all you want but here's the crossing--

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Dd1PnhVLe5V7Aoej7?g_st=ac

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/25 13:25 by ShortlinesUSA.

Looks like the pickup was towing a small dump trailer, likely for mulch.
This line has a long history with all the private crossings, if anyone remembers what happened just south of here at Catlett, VA., in 1989.
I'm glad what appears to be a child seat in that pickup was unoccupied on this day...

5 pm update: 
Driver upgraded to stable condition
Family friend of property owner on other side of crossing. 
The pickup driver had unhooked a trailer and then pulled forward on the crossing, apparently never seeing the train at speed, southbound on the normally northbound track.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/25 16:18 by bigsavage.

"Catlett, VA 1989"  Was that the grade crossing crash 
involving a fire truck?  

bigsavage Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Looks like the pickup was towing a small dump
> trailer, likely for mulch.
> This line has a long history with all the private
> crossings, if anyone remembers what happened just
> south of here at Catlett, VA., in 1989.
> I'm glad what appears to be a child seat in that
> pickup was unoccupied on this day...

....and that the "landing point" was on the signal cabinet side of tracks rather than near the 'propane tank' side.  I realize there's another track, but sometime we never know what "could have been even worse"!!  

ShortlinesUSA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Uh, not so fast there. No "blinking red lights" at
> this one. Looks more like a driveway/private
> crossing situation. Yes, I know the stop look and
> listen rule and lecture all you want but here's
> the crossing--
>
> https://maps.app.goo.gl/Dd1PnhVLe5V7Aoej7?g_st=ac

> Posted from Android
Yes, when I learned to drive, and when taking the driver's test, there was a question about railroad crossings.  Drivers must STOP, LOOK, and Listen at all crossings especially ones that do not have lights and gates.  This is still the law today, and with private crossings, this is even more important.  To me, this is just plain carelessness by that driver, sad to say.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

CPMorris Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Catlett, VA 1989"  Was that the grade crossing
> crash 
> involving a fire truck?  
Bingo...

ClubCar Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's just very sad indeed that so many people
> across the nation get hit by trains because the do
> NOT obey the rules at grade crossings.  They
> ignore the blinking red lights to begin with and
> then they run around those crossings with gates. 
> They are in such a big hurry and they are so
> important that they cannot wait for a train to go
> by.  Sadly, we cannot fix stupid.  

And therein is a big part of the problem. People fixate on the symptom, not the root cause.

The root cause is that people just don't care and do not know what caution and respect and civility are. They are all ME ME ME ME I will do what I want when I want how I want.

People today have no idea of what cordiality or common sense mean, or even that they exist.

And that is what they are being taught. Little kids in their parents car learn that it is OK to run a stop sign and talk and be preoccupied while operating a vehicle. And on and on and on. And since driver's education is now solely in the hands of businesses whose primary purpose is to make money, no one is there to teach those kids the right way.

People see a red light as bad, evil, something that is holding them up, keeping them from what they want to do. They see it as something they need to overcome, not obey. 
 

"...Southbound Amtrak hit a large pickup truck..."

Not so large any more...

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "...Southbound Amtrak hit a large pickup
> truck..."
>
> Not so large any more...

Oh it's still large, but now it's a large pile of junk.

151 turns for 66 at Roanoke ,enroute to Boston.

Initial terminal delay at RNK was 4:46  due to late inbound consist and servicing  / turning train .

While air horns are required to be sounded at public crossings, private are a different matter entirely.   Here in PA they do not sound for private crossings.

It literally depends on local ordinances, on a crossing by crossing basis.  I can't see as how I've seen that elsewhere, but here's the Virginia law.
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title56/chapter13/section56-414/

That's wild.  So you can even blame the locals, who are undoubtedly protected, and also caught in the 'noise vs. safety' arguement.    But the default is you don't blow the horn.

"The governing body of any county, city, or town may, by ordinance adopted following a public hearing, petition the State Corporation Commission to enter an order, pursuant to the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, requiring locomotives to sound their whistle or horn at specifically identified private crossings in the same manner as required for public crossings. If the Commission should deem the blowing of the locomotive whistle at such private crossings to be necessary in the interest of safety under all relevant circumstances, then it shall enter an order. The affected railroad shall comply with the order within 90 days of receipt by its registered agent of notice sent by registered mail and the locality must first install stop signs on both sides of such private crossing, to be paid for by the locality or the landowner. The Commission may establish and collect a fee, not to exceed its actual costs, from applicants for an order to sound locomotive whistles pursuant to this section."
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/18/25 13:54 by randgust.