(The following story appeared on the The Bryan-College Station Eagle website on October 7, 2010.)
ROBERTSON COUNTY, Texas — Authorities said two people suffered minor injuries after a Union Pacific train struck a stalled 18-wheeler in Robertson County on Thursday morning.
The accident near Hearne at the intersection of F.M. 485 and F.M. 1644 was reported about 8:20 a.m., according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The train hit an 18-wheeler pulling a dump trailer that was on the tracks, DPS officials said.
DPS Senior Cpl. Jimmy Morgan said authorities believe the 41-year-old Bryan man driving the 18-wheeler tried to hit his brakes when he realized he wouldn’t make it across the tracks on time, but got stalled on the tracks. The train engineer reported seeing him approaching the tracks moments before striking him, Morgan said.
The train conductor and driver of the 18-wheeler both sustained minor injuries, Morgan said. A friend took the conductor to a local hospital, where he was treated and released, and the truck driver was treated at the scene, Morgan said.
Morgan said a citation could be issued in the wreck, but the cause was still under investigation.
There are lights at the intersection, but no crossing arms. DPS is investigating whether the train sounded a warning signal.
The intersection was closed shortly after the wreck, and was reopened at 12:40 p.m., according to the Texas Department of Transportation.