Belgrade truck/train accident

A collision between a truck and train in Belgrade has been reported this morning by the BDN. No other details.

Detailed article with photos here: https://www.centralmaine.com/2022/12/01 ... -belgrade/

Fair use:

Bockman’s Hyundai Elantra was traveling southbound when it collided with a railroad tamper at about 6 a.m. on Route 27, also known as the Augusta Road.

The tamper was being operated by Bryce Willette, 19, of Madison, Moss said. It was not clear Thursday what led to the collision.

A tamper is used as part of rail maintenance to pack track ballast and keep it level.

I'm not trying to pre-judge here but an 83 year old car driver and 19 year old operating a track maintenance machine meeting at a rail crossing does not usually result in good things.

As the attached Google Streetview shows, the rte 27 crossing does have flasher protection but it's my understanding that many MoW machines don't shunt track circuits (or at least not reliably). So perhaps the lights weren't flashing when the tamper entered the roadway and no worker was on the ground to protect the crossing?