CLEVELAND, June 29 — Brother Heath Pape, a member of BLET Division 197 in San Antonio, Texas, was killed in the collision between a Union Pacific train and a BNSF train on Monday, June 28. Brother Pape had just joined the BLET. He was 23 years old.
Brother Pape’s father, E.G. Pape, has been a member of BLET Division 197 since 1982.
BLET National President Don M. Hahs expressed his deepest sympathy to the Pape family on the behalf of all the members of the BLET. As is customary, the BLET flag will fly at half mast over the BLET’s headquarters at the Standard Building in Cleveland to honor Brother Pape.
The BLET Safety Task Force is on the scene of the accident to assist the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation.
The collision unleashed a cloud of chlorine gas and ammonium nitrate. The wreck derailed 40 cars in a rural area southwest of San Antonio. Fire officials say as many as 50 people suffered minor respiratory irritation.
Funeral services have not been scheduled. More information will be released when available.