If there’s one thing the internet loves, it’s car crash videos and any variation on that theme. Train crashes, plane crashes, truck crashes, you name it, there’s a subgenre for it. One viral video manages to combine several of these subgenres into one particularly intense crash video in which a train crashed into a semi-truck carrying a single wind turbine blade.
The accident took place in Luling, Texas, about 50 miles south of Austin, and occurred when the truck tried to cross a set of railroad tracks while also turning right. As the 18-wheeler was still in the crossing, the train signal arms came down, at which point the driver of the escort car exited their vehicle to try and assist. Unfortunately, the train quickly came speeding toward the truck before they could help, smashing into the truck and dragging it sideways as well as knocking the truck onto its side.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, although the accident split the truck’s trailer and caused the wind turbine blade to damage three empty cars, a building and a utility pole. The train’s front engines also sustained damage.
According to Industrial Equipment News, this particular train crossing has been the site of 13 accidents in the past, with Luling Police Chief Bill Sala telling reporters that the turn often proves difficult for trucks carrying oversized loads like wind turbines, which are obviously incredibly large and very difficult to move safely; months of planning go into figuring out the logistics of transporting turbine blades and towers.
Fox Business reported that a woman claiming to be the wife of the truck driver responded to the video on Facebook, explaining that it was a “tight squeeze” and there were no flashing lights or bars down when the truck entered the crossing. She added, “We are giving God the glory that there was [sic] no injuries!”
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