(The following story by Debra Dowling appeared on the Omaha World-Herald website on May 15, 2010.)
OMAHA, Neb. — A northbound train carrying Union Pacific employees struck a dump truck in Bellevue, separating the truck in two but injuring no one, police and Union Pacific reported.
The dump box of the truck – owned by Anderson Excavating of Omaha — was lying several yards away from the cab and chassis of the truck shortly after the accident at 3:52 p.m., but it was unclear how the two had split.
Police and emergency personnel blocked off the private crossing near Fort Crook Road South, across from Offutt Air Force Base, for two hours as an inspection team from Union Pacific soon arrived.
Onboard the train, known within Union Pacific as an “Inspection Special,” were company engineers and other employees, said U.P. spokesman Mark Davis.
“Twice a year, our engineering team tries to get out and inspect the tracks. It’s part of their planning on future main projects,” Davis said.
Bellevue police said the accident is still under investigation. Phone calls to Anderson Excavation went unanswered.
The Inspection Special originated in Parsons, Kan., with a last stop scheduled in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Davis said. The train was given clearance to resume its journey at 5:30 p.m., he said.