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The truckdriver said that before he saw the approaching train, he had decided to cross the track without stopping and without reducing his truck's speed. When he finally saw the train, he applied the brakes and steered hard to the left. Before the brakes could lock the wheels, the truckdriver released the brakes to allow himself full steering capability. According to the driver, he opted for the steering maneuver because he was certain that he could neither stop the vehicle before he reached the track nor accelerate and clear the track before the train reached the crossing.
When the engineer saw the truck approaching the crossing, he estimated its speed to be about 35 mph. As the train reached the crossing the engineer noted that the truck was swerving as if its driver had braked and that the vehicle had turned south in the direction of the train's travel. As the truck turned sharply to the left, it was both rotating counterclockwise and upsetting to the right as it moved toward the track in a west—southwesterly direction. The truck was still on the road and parallel to the train when it completed its overturn to the right. Its cargo of asphalt Spilled onto the track area and against the second car of the train as the body of the truck struck the side of the car.
A combination of impact forces and mounds of asphalt on the east rail of the track caused the rear truck of the second car to derail. The overturned dump truck slid into the ditch bordering the track and the unbelted truckdriver was ejected through the windshield space before the truck came to rest. The third car moved forward and its lower left-front side panel contacted the dump truck. The second and third cars became uncoupled and the third, fourth, and fifth cars then derailed. The train brakes applied themselves in emergency as the air line connection between the cars was severed. The leading power car continued southward for about 1,450 feet and came to rest with its front and rear trucks on the rails. The front truck of the second car stopped on the ground at the base of the east rail and the left wheel of the rear truck was derailed and stopped just inside the west rail. The right wheels of the second car were on the edge of the track ballast. The three rear ears were tilted at a 20—degree angle and the first two cars stopped upright, about 36 feet ahead of the rear cars
No fire ensued. Forty—one persons were injured in the collision.
Postaccident Activities
The Will County Sheriff's Department directed the evacuation of the injured persons. Will County and surrounding communities provided emergency and rescue equipment. Rescue units arrived within 10 minutes of the accident.
