(The Lakeland Ledger posted the following article on its website on August 19.)
LAKELAND, Fla. — A Department of Transportation truck was hit Wednesday afternoon by a CSX freight train, but the driver and four passengers escaped with minor injuries.
A preliminary investigation indicated that the crash could have been the result of a malfunctioning railroad cross arm, said Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Larry Coggins.
About 4 p.m., the truck, driven by Polk County corrections officer Joe L. Jackson and carrying four inmates — Clyde Lancaster,43; Luis Morales, 26; Carl Bobian, 38; and Marvin Kirskey, 48 — from a road work crew, attempted to turn west on to County Road 547 from Magnolia Avenue, the FHP reported.
As the truck pulled onto the tracks, the southbound train collided with the truck, spinning the truck clockwise as the train attempted to stop.
The collision caused the train to separate into three sections, all three of which remained on the tracks. The truck and train came to a final stop on the tracks, at the intersection of Bargain Barn Road and C.R. 547.
The four inmates and the corrections officer were transported by Polk County ambulance to Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center with non-lifethreatening injuries.
Coggins said the train, which was pulling a couple miles of freight cars, was not traveling fast.