Truck vs. train in Livermore Falls 07-23-2014

From the Sun Journal:

Sun Journal wrote:LIVERMORE FALLS — The driver of a tractor-trailer loaded with logs was injured Wednesday afternoon when the truck he was driving and a Pan Am Railways train collided on Main Street near the Bank Building.

The truck driver did not hear the train or the bells or see the train before the truck crossed the railroad crossing, Livermore Falls police Lt. Joseph Sage said.

The driver was taken by a NorthStar EMS ambulance to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington with injuries that were not life-threatening, he said.

Read the rest of the article at: http://www.sunjournal.com/news/franklin ... ls/1565395" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

MEC407 wrote:The truck driver did not hear the train or the bells or see the train before the truck crossed the railroad crossing, Livermore Falls police Lt. Joseph Sage said.

There's a bell for each direction on Main St., and according to the FRA crossing inventory, it's not a "no horn zone." Absent any information about a signal malfunction, I think the summons he received was justified.

Or maybe the dang train hid behind that building until it could ambush him.

He's getting a $311 ticket

News video from WCSH-6:

http://www.wcsh6.com/story/news/local/2 ... /13079799/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BM6569 wrote:He's getting a $311 ticket

Yep, that's the going rate for not stopping or not stopping properly (staying at least 10 feet from the near rail) where there are automatic signals or a flagger. Same amount as not stopping for a traffic light.
In a way, he's lucky, because if he was hauling oil or another placarded material, he could be facing the loss of his license for not yielding to the train.

I know of at least one other crash in the past few years, similar circumstances but a different jurisdiction, where the vehicle operator wasn't cited. The crossing where he got center-punched (right behind the driver's door) is the only "non-quiet zone" crossing in that community, but he said he didn't see any lights or hear bells or the horn. Well, maybe if he had slowed down and looked both ways once he saw the advance warning signs and pavement markings, like another part of the law says to do . . .
That part is a $165 fine, but I've never heard of anyone being cited for it.

"Don't try to beat the train to the crossing. If it's a tie, you lose."

Wait until he gets the bill for any damage caused to the loco/signaling system and the cost of the delay to the train. $311 dollars will pale in comparison!