No injuries after near-collision between Amtrak and tractor trailer in Churchill County
A tractor trailer and an Amtrak train nearly collided north of Fallon on Highway 95 at about 7 this morning, the Nevada Highway Patrol reports. No one was hurt, but there was enough debris to cause damage.
The accident tied up traffic on the Churchill County highway for several hours as debris was scattered along the road way. The investigation revealed that the driver of a gray 2005 Kenworth tractor pulling a flatbed trailer loaded with green plastic pipe, was traveling southbound on Highway 95 and failed to stop for the Amtrak that was crossing the two-lane highway at a controlled intersection, according to the NHP
There are two large towers with lights and crossing bars that were illuminated and activated at the time of the event, the NHP reported.
The driver of the truck, David Leroy Fyfe, 56 of Shelley, Idaho, applied the brakes of his big rig. He steered to the right and struck a section of guardrail and then hit one of the large railroad sign towers and stopped his truck before striking the passing westbound train.
Debris scattered from the sign tower and the crossing guard bar and struck three of the passing train cars. No one was injured in the event. Fyfe was cited for failing to use due care by NHP and officials from the Union Pacific Railroad also responded to the scene.
One lane of the highway was blocked for several hours and temporary traffic control was provided by Nevada Department of Transportation personnel. There was minor damage to the train cars and the truck tractor had to be towed from the scene as it sustained significant damage.