HARMAR TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A Norfolk Southern train derailed after a grade crossing accident with a construction vehicle in a Pittsburgh suburb Thursday afternoon, injuring the driver and both members of the train crew.
Seventeen cars derailed, with several going into a tributary of the Allegheny River, WTAE-TV reports, and a railroad bridge was damaged. Information on the severity of the injuries was not immediately available. Video of the accident shows a locomotive on its side, and that an unknown substance is leaking from tank cars that are among the derailed cars.
WXPI-TV reports a water line was also broken in the accident, and an adjacent street, Freeport Road, has been closed.
Norfolk Southern spokesman Thomas Crosson said an eastbound train struck a dump truck carrying stone. “At this time, our personnel are on site and working with local authorities to determine next steps,” Crosson said.
Collision site (NS train vs. articulated stone hauler) is compass North of Pittsburgh and between Kiski Jct. and Pittsburgh.
Presumably the truck driver will recover from his injuries. After which, assuming the driver manages to keep their CDL, should go back for some safety training (safe driving practices when crossing railroad crossings)
Not Politically correct headline should be: Dumbass Truck Driver Derails Train.
Hey Newswire editor, what’s this business of titling an article that that cites a grade crossing incident simply as a derailment? Why did you not title it “NS train near Pittsburgh derails after hitting truck carrying stone at a grade crossing”, or something similar. Your headline mirrors the mainstream media’s penchant for calling grade crossing incidents be they train/vehicle or train/pedestrian as “crashes”.
According to WPXI TV, the derailment occurred in Harmar Township, Allegheny County, which means that it did not take place on either the Pittsburgh or Fort Wayne lines. It appears that that Allegheny tributary was Deer Creek.