W.Va.: 1 dead, 2 dozen hurt in collision between logging truck, train

[cpzilliacus]

Washington Post: Officials: 1 dead, 2 dozen hurt in collision between logging truck, train on scenic W.Va. tour

A logging truck collided Friday with a train carrying passengers on a scenic tour amid peak fall foliage season in the West Virginia mountains, killing one person and injuring 24 people Friday, authorities said. Two of the rail cars turned on their sides.

The cause of the accident between the truck and the Durbin & Greenbrier Railroad train on an excursion at the height of autumn leaf-watching season in the state's mountainous eastern region wasn't immediately known.

Two rail passenger cars overturned in the accident at 1:30 p.m. Friday along U.S. Route 250 about 160 miles east of Charleston at Cheat Mountain, said emergency services director Shawn Dunbrack of Pocahontas County.

[froggie]

As I recall, that crossing has signals but no gates.

[Bitmapped]

As I recall, that crossing has signals but no gates.

Correct.

About half of the train had already crossed when the truck hit.  Gates likely wouldn't have made any difference here.

[cpzilliacus]

Gates likely wouldn't have made any difference here.

Perhaps if the driver had obeyed the traffic control devices in place at the grade crossing, this might not have happened?

[cpzilliacus]

WVDOH has installed an advance warning sign on eastbound W.Va. 90 in Grant County approaching the (ungated) grade crossing near Bayard (the railroad line in question is used by coal trains servicing the Mount Storm generating station).

Ideally, that advance warning sign (located on a fairly steep descent) would have flashing beacons when the  crossing is blocked, but this one does not.

[seicer]

There are signs on US 250 that warn of a grade crossing a mile in advance on both sides. One is coming down a grade, the other is around a blind curve. The logging truck was either losing his brakes coming down the hill or didn't notice the lights. Seeing as it was a logging truck and the drivers are local, the driver must have known about the crossing.

[Bitmapped]

There are signs on US 250 that warn of a grade crossing a mile in advance on both sides. One is coming down a grade, the other is around a blind curve. The logging truck was either losing his brakes coming down the hill or didn't notice the lights. Seeing as it was a logging truck and the drivers are local, the driver must have known about the crossing.

I've driven this route a couple dozen times.  Other than the standard RxR signs a couple hundred feet before the crossing and a "Railroad Signal Ahead" sign on US 250 southbound, I don't recall there being any special advance signage.  I didn't quickly see anything on Google Street View either.

As far as WV goes, the grade on US 250 northbound through here is pretty minor.  It is about 2%.

The driver was a local, so it's doubtful any amount of advance warning signage would have made a difference.