(The following article was reported on the website of Sacramento television station KCRA on July 15.)
SACRAMENTO — An Amtrak train traveling from Oakland to Sacramento smashed into a big rig Tuesday morning.
“There was a big bump, biggest bump I’ve ever felt,” train passenger Chris Geiger said.
Authorities said the big rig was carrying bleach when it crashed near the town of Rodeo just before 7 a.m. The truck driver, Raul Zemuvio, was taking the load to a local sewage treatment plant.
“I stopped, looking both ways, and I didn’t see nothing,” Zemuvio said. Then I went. I tried to cross. When I was in the middle, I see the train coming. So I didn’t make it.”
Union Pacific Railroad spokesman John Bromley said no one was injured.
“I looked out the window, and there was — right outside my Window — a tank leaking some kind of liquid that’s steaming onto the ground,” Geiger said.
“The terrorism — that’s the first thing that came to my mind. And then you see all those special suit people coming in and checking the truck. It was scary,” passenger Freddie Esteves said.
Firefighters were able to cap the bleach leak quickly, according to officials. They said that a couple hundred gallons did spill, but that there’s no great concern for the environment.
Bromley said the train’s engine was damaged, and that it was being towed back to Oakland.
Officials said the passengers were transferred to a second train and sent on their way.