(The Associated Press circulated the following article on July 15.)
CLARKS, Neb. — A semitrailer filled with corn was split in half when struck by a train at a railroad crossing in rural Merrick County.
Corn was scattered along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks at the crossing near U.S. Highway 30 between Central City and Clarks. No one was injured in the Monday accident, but the trailer and two train engines were damaged, the Merrick County Sheriff’s Department said. The crossing was closed for about four hours after the accident at 8:15 a.m. Monday, Sheriff Anthony McPhillips said. The railroad crossing is marked with a crossbuck, but the truck driver ignored the train, McPhillips said.
The train was traveling at 70 mph when it hit the semitrailer, railroad spokesman Mark Davis said.