(The following report by Joyce Peterson appeared on the My Eye Witness News website on April 26.)
ARLINGTON, Tenn. — Four CSX employees were rushed to the hospital after their train derailed in Arlington around 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 25th, 2008.
A spokesperson with the Shelby County Sherrif’s Department says the accident happened when the train slammed into a tractor-trailer that was crossing the tracks along Jetway Avenue near Highway 70.
The truck driver, 33 year-old Marlin Liggins, was not injured and faces charges in the incident.
Rescue crews arrived to find the lead engine covered in debris. The second engine left the tracks and wound up on its’ side. 10 of the train’s 26 other cars derailed and were in a crumpled pile of twisted metal.
Eyewitness News Everywhere spoke with Liggins about two hours after the collision. When asked what happened he said, “I’m just glad to be alive.”
Investigators say the train hit the rear of Liggins’ trailer, which was carrying corn syrup. The train, carrying a shipment of automobiles, derailed in an industrial section of Arlington where several factories are located.
“It’s bad,” says 15 year-old Jordan Berg. Like many other curious onlookers, Berg walked to the site to check out the damage.
“I’ve never seen a train wreck before,” says Berg. “Even though all that stuff on the train is lost, it’s good that no one was hurt.”
The four injured CSX workers were taken to The Med by ambulance.
The Arlington Fire Department says all of the injuries were minor. And there were no hazardous materials on either the truck or the train so no evacuations were ordered.
“The only problem,” says Assistant Chief Jim McMillen, “was 100 to 150 gallons of diesel fuel that came out of the engine that flipped over. But that has been diked up and poses no threat to anyone.”
The crossing where the accident happened has warning signals but no gates or bars.
When asked if he saw the train coming, Marlin Liggins, declined comment. Sheriff’s deputies charged him with disregarding a railroad signal.
Emergency crews say it’s a decision that caused a dangerous derailment that could have been much worse.
“I have no idea how fast that train was going,” says Assistant Chief McMillen, “but looking at the damage to the first engine and to the one that was turned over, it’s lucky no one was seriously injured.”
The injured employees have been identified as 39 year-old Brian Thompson and 61 year-old Allen Frazier. They were riding in the first engine. Both were treated and released from the hospital.
The other two men are 35 year-old Daniel Allen and 41 year-old James Ralls. They were riding in the second engine. Both were still at The Med as of 10:00 p.m. Friday night.
CSX crews hope to have the tracks cleared within 48 hours.