Unbeliable News

[Eddie_m63]

4 Dead as Train Hits Vets' Parade


Four people died and 17 others were taken to a hospital when a train crashed into a parade float honoring veterans in Midland, Texas, late this afternoon.

"From what we know right now, apparently there were two fatalities at the time of the incident and two more at the hospital that passed away after they'd been transported," Midland Police Chief Price Robinson said.

Midland Memorial Hospital confirmed the four deaths to ABC News.

Of the 17 injured at the hospital, 10 were in critical condition and seven were in stable condition, Robinson said.

The float was one of two 18-wheel trailers carrying wounded veterans and their families during the parade when a train approached, according to Hamid Vatankhah, a witness who owns a used car lot near the scene of the crash.

The first truck crossed the tracks in time, but the second did not, Vatankhah said, adding that sirens from the police cars in the parade may have drowned out the sound of the approaching train.

"Some people were able to jump, and some that were sitting in wheelchairs on top couldn't do nothing about it," Vatankhah said.

The floats in the Show of Support's Hunt for Heroes parade were crossing Union Pacific train tracks at Garfield Street and Industrial Avenue en route to a Show of Support Banquet around 4:35 p.m. local time, according to ABC News affiliate KMID-TV.

A Union Pacific spokesman said the eastbound train was sounding its horn before the accident and the crossing gate and lights were working, according to The Associated Press.

Witnesses said the gate did not go down before the floats got to the tracks, KMID reported.

The National Transportation Safety Board was launching a team to the site to investigate the crash. It expected to have investigators at the site this evening and a full team on site by Friday.

http://m.yahoo.com/w/legobpengine/ne...tl=US&.lang=en

[MickeyKnox]

F'n ***hole driving the rig is at fault! Thats why you LOOK each way before continuing over a set of tracks! Never rely on the lights or bells or your ears!

Why do you think a school bus stops at ALL railway crossings?

Senseless and easily preventable deaths, thats all that was..sad..

[stpete]

That's terrible.

[MickeyKnox]

Ive worked in the rail industry for almost 20years and i still dont trust railway crossings. At night when im approaching a crossing that isn't lit up well, i turn my lights of for a split second. If there is a train approaching I can always see the beam of light from the locomotive reflecting off the crossing up to a half mile away. If the crossing is in a curve you'll still see the beam before you reach the crossing.

During the day, you LOOK each direction to visually ensure nothing is on the tracks or approaching.

[Eddie_m63]

Guys u should read some of the comments on yahoo bunch of idiots if u ask me.