Train crashes into semi in Slidell

[bronzdragon]

Some news for those around Slidell...

An Amtrak train crashed into a semi carrying an armored personnel carrier this morning.

http://www.abc26.com/news/local/wgno-pictures-slidell-train-accident-20110420,0,2030598.photogallery

~rc~

 

[Leadslugga]

What's with the tank? Was it on the truck/train?

 

[peterf225]

That's in front of Textron where they make the APCs and some tanks. They might have been using the tank the move the semi.

 

[onelochevy]

The green tank is always there. It's just for decoration. The semi got wedged under that tank, and actually pushed it about a foot forward.

 

[Leadslugga]

Wow, of all the places to crash, a tank is involved.

 

[themcfarland]

ahh, that would suck..

 

[Pocket]

New Orleans radio station just said the semi was carrying the APC when hit by the train.

 

[Leadslugga]

So it was carrying the APC, was hit, and crashed into a tank?

This could only get more ridiculous if a helicopter crashed on top of the whole thing.

 

[bronzdragon]

Yeah, I haven't read the details but they cross those tracks all the time bringing the APCs out of there. Looks like someone wasn't looking or tried to beat the train. Either way, half of Front Street has been blocked off all day.

~rc~

 

[troy_mclure]

my girl frequently rides the Amtrak from Chicago to New Orleans. glad no one was badly injured.

 

[whbonney26]

Good thing that the train had just stopped. Had that happened a few miles from there like near Brownswitch Road that train would have been moving much MUCH faster and could have been a disaster for sure.

 

[jimdana1942]

I bet the APC was headed to Libya, the rebels gonna be belly aching they didn't get the APC NATO promised them.

 

[Storm52]

Man vs Train Train 1

 

[bronzdragon]

Train always wins the fight. Good thing Honey Badger don't care bout no trains.

~rc~

 

[Neil09]

From what I just learned in CDL training, I'm pretty sure that's not supposed to happen. I have been wrong once before in my life though..

 

[Kraut]

Wow, of all the places to crash, a tank is involved.

The automated crash report program has graphics for an M-1 Abrams tank, and I've always thought "What the hell do they have that in there for?" Now I know.

I was on my way to city court this morning and this had just happened, ended up directing traffic nearby for two hours before being relieved and going to court. The last word I had was that Norfolk Southern was working light-speed with a killer set of tools, and they were anticipating the track and roadway being opened by 2300 hrs. Every train that doesn't get through is money lost, so they don't mess around.

Norfolk Southern Police and Amtrak officials/workers came up to the roadblock nice and calm, the first "emergency" vehicle to come screaming up like a bat outta hell lit up like a Xmas tree, half a dozen antennas whistlin' in the wind, and weaving in and out of traffic (instead of keeping the left lane) risking lives bore a US Gov't. plate, probably some desk weenie who's been waiting 10 years to get an opportunity to run code. Like the train wreck was gonna go somewhere anytime soon. Police/Fire/EMS on the scene for 45 minutes but "Everybody get outta my way!" Made me think of Dumb and Dumber: "It's OK, I'm a limo driver!"

 

[bronzdragon]

Usually if you get into a crash with a tank, you also lose.

~rc~