Big rig slams into Amtrak train in Central Valley

[n2doc]

Source: SF Gate

(10-01) 14:49 PDT Hanford -- At least 20 people were injured Monday when a big-rig truck slammed into the side of an Amtrak train on a rural Kings County roadway rail crossing, authorities said.

No serious injuries were reported in the wreck just south of Hanford, authorities said. The train, which left from Oakland and was bound for Bakersfield, was carrying 169 passengers.

It is unclear why the big-rig driver crashed into the train near the intersection of 10th and Kansas at 12:15 p.m. The intersection is marked with gates, gongs and flashing lights.

The truck is lying on its side across the railroad tracks and three of the five railroad cars have jumped off the tracks, authorities said.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Big-rig-slams-into-Amtrak-train-in-Central-Valley-3910064.php

[slackmaster]

1. Lug Nut Rule a.k.a. Gross Vehicle Weight Rule

The vehicle that sports the most lug nuts, or that has the greatest gross weight, always has the right-of-way.

For vessels on the water the Gross Tonnage Rule applies.

[bloomington-lib]

2. If this is the zypher, it seems they're always getting hit or having some kind of problem

But its a fun trip to take across the country.

[KamaAina]

3. Nope. San Joaquin service.

Four trips a day, I believe, from Bakersfield to/from Oakland and two to Sacramento.

[Crowman1979]

4. To quote MST3k from the short "Last Clear Chance":

Trains are blameless, holy creatures!

[XemaSab]

5. That sucks

I wonder how they're hoping to prevent the same thing from happening with the new zillion dollar train.

Here's the crossing: http://goo.gl/maps/pELz7

[FarCenter]

6. This is why high-speed rail requires grade separation of rails and roads.