Train Collides with Military Mobile Artillery Vehicle Being Hauled on a Semi-Truck

Details of the Incident

On Wednesday, September 15, 2023, at approximately 7:45 AM, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department responded to a report of a train collision in Barstow, California. The collision involved a westbound BNSF Railway train and a semi-truck hauling a military mobile artillery vehicle. The incident occurred at the intersection of First Avenue and Bogart Road.

According to witnesses, the semi-truck was stopped on the tracks when the train approached. The train engineer attempted to stop the train, but was unable to do so in time. The train collided with the semi-truck, causing the truck to overturn and the artillery vehicle to be ejected from the trailer. The impact of the collision also caused the train to derail.

Casualties and Damage

The collision resulted in the death of the semi-truck driver, who was the only person in the truck at the time of the incident. There were no injuries to the train crew or passengers. The train was carrying approximately 100 cars, and about 20 of those cars derailed.

The damage to the train and the tracks is estimated to be in the millions of dollars. The cleanup and repair process is expected to take several days.

Response and Investigation

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Barstow Fire Protection District, and BNSF Railway personnel responded to the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also investigating the incident.

The cause of the collision is still under investigation, but it is believed that the semi-truck driver may have been attempting to cross the tracks when the train approached. The NTSB will be examining the train's and truck's black boxes, as well as interviewing witnesses, to determine the exact cause of the incident.