(The Akron Beacon Journal posted the following story by Jim Carney on its website on May 22.)
AKRON, Ohio — A runaway 20,000-gallon railroad tank car collided with a railroad truck near Summit Street in downtown Akron on Wednesday morning.
The Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway tank car carrying latex began its 4-mile journey about 9:20 a.m. Wednesday, when railroad workers were putting a train together at the Akron yard near East Market Street and Mogadore Road.
According to a news release from Akron police Capt. Daniel Zampelli, it is customary to build a train by releasing one car a short distance from a group of cars.
The tank car was released, but the other cars were not on the track, so “the tanker traveled approximately four miles until it struck a railroad maintenance vehicle,” Zampelli said.
Two railroad employees were in the truck at the time, and one was able to jump from the truck when he saw the tank car. The second employee was not able to get out, but was not injured, police said.
No latex spilled from the tank car. The truck was badly damaged.
The tank car came to a stop between Summit Street and the All-America Bridge, Zampelli said.
The Summit Street crossing was opened to traffic before noon.
Police said the incident was still under investigation.
William A. Callison, vice president for law/government relations for the Brewster-based railroad, said the company also is investigating the incident.
“We are going to find out exactly what happened and we will look at what we need to do,” Callison said.