(The Associated Press circulated the following story on August 18.)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — More than 100 passengers were stranded after an Amtrak train hit a dump truck crossing the tracks. No one was seriously hurt in the crash.
The Tampa-to-Miami train was southbound at 10:45 a.m. Saturday when Riley B. Brannen, 61, crossed the tracks on a dirt road in northwestern Palm Beach County.
The oncoming train ripped off the front end of the Eastman Aggregates’ dump truck, then continued for about half a mile before screeching to a halt.
The 105 passengers and crew of five waited for about three hours for the arrival of county buses to ferry them to the Amtrak station in West Palm Beach.
Hazardous materials crews from Amtrak cleaned up a 500-gallon spill that came from the train’s punctured fuel tank, fire-rescue spokesman Steve Delai said.
Brannen, of Riviera Beach, was treated for an arm injury, Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Thomas Altieri said.
He was expected to be cited for failure to yield the right of way, Altieri said. A sign warned that it was a railroad crossing, but there is no gate.
“The train always has the right of way,” Altieri said. “He tried to cross the track, and the train hit him. He was supposed to stop, and he didn’t.”