West Texas rail crossing had 10 previous accidents

WASHINGTON (AP) ? There were 10 previous collisions at the same West Texas railroad crossing where a train slammed into a parade float carrying wounded veterans and their families this week, according to Federal Railroad Administration records reviewed by The Associated Press.

Five cars and five trucks have been struck by trains or rail equipment at the Garfield railroad crossing in Midland since 1979. Six drivers were injured in the accidents but there were no fatalities.

The trains involved in the previous collisions were moving slowly at the time of the accidents ? between 15 mph and 25 mph. The most recent incident was in December 1997 when a rail car moving at 5 mph struck a car crossing the tracks, injuring the driver.

Two cars and a tractor-trailer truck were struck by trains while the vehicles were stopped on the crossing. In the other incidents, the vehicles were in the process of crossing the tracks.

Four veterans were killed and 16 other people were injured Thursday when a train struck a tractor-trailer truck towing the float that was stopped on the crossing. The truck was towing the float to banquet to honor the veterans.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/west-texas-rail-crossing-had-10-previous-accidents-171024922.html

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