(The following story by Jim Schoettler appeared on the Florida Times-Union website on April 8, 2010.)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A train engine pulling a caboose used to promote railroad crossing safety collided with a tow truck in North Jacksonville this afternoon, injuring the tow truck driver, police and fire officials said.
The accident occurred about 1:15 p.m. in the 9200 block of North Main Street across from the Preferred Materials concrete plant. A tow truck from Abe’s Wrecker Service was leaving a junkyard and crossing a train track when it was struck by the northbound engine and caboose, said Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Lt. Allen Eason.
There was no crossing arm at the site, but there was a sign warning motorists about the track.
Eason said the tow truck driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The man, taken to Shands Jacksonville hospital, has not been identified.
The CSX engine was pulling an Operation Lifesaver caboose.
Operation Lifesaver is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness of railroad crossing hazards, said Gary Sease, a CSX spokesman. A message on the caboose read: Look. Listen. Live.
The engine and caboose were headed to work switching trains.
No one on the engine was injured and no one was in the caboose.