Benton County, Washington – Train Collides with Pickup Truck Stuck on Tracks

Benton County, Washington (March 18, 2020) – A train collided with a pickup truck that was making a crossing in an unauthorized area on Wednesday. According to the article from KEPR News, two 18 year-old people were inside the truck but they were able to exit the vehicle before the train crashed. Both people who were on the train were also uninjured in the collision. According to information from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the two people inside the truck were attempting to make a crossing when the truck got struck on the tracks. The two people inside got out and noticed that the train was coming. The train ended up pushing the vehicle for the length of two football fields. There were no mentions of railroad operations getting canceled in relation to the crash.

About Train Accidents

While train accidents can be deadly, they are among the safest forms of transportation, with a fatality rate much lower than car or motorcycle accidents. Derailments, which can lead to many train-related accidents, are said to be common but are most likely harmless, with trains only causing damage or injuries if the derailment causes the train to crash into a structure or another train. However, while riding the train is relatively safe, a collision with one is likely to be deadly. This is because trains can weigh over millions of pounds. According to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, the average freight train consisting of 100 cars can weigh from 12 million to twenty million pounds – this weight combined with the speed of a train can cause great impact. Additionally, this weight also delays the effect of an emergency brake, which may need distance of over a mile to fully halt a train. Because of this, it is important to always remain alert near railroads.

While trains have many safety features, it is everyone’s responsibility to be safe around tracks. Keeping in mind that trains cannot swerve nor quickly stop, so pedestrians and drivers alike must take care to keep off tracks when a rain is approaching. Never underestimate the speed of an oncoming train, which may look like it’s approaching slowly due to optical illusions. Lastly, one must always watch out for the presence of a second train. By keeping alert and following regulations, we can help avoid train accidents from happening.

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