(Houston, Texas – October 4, 2011)
The driver of a dump truck, allegedly blinded by a reflection, went through a red traffic light at the intersection of Main and Capitol Streets in Houston, TX Tuesday, and collided with a MetroRail light rail commuter train traveling west on Capitol
The collision injured the truck driver, the MetroRail engineer, and at least 13 passengers aboard the train. The truck not only derailed the train, but then careened into a corner business, Ziggy’s Bar & Grill.
Video from both the locomotive cab as well as in coaches aboard the train showed the direct impact by the large dump truck and the train, as well as passengers being knocked from their seats as the train lurched to a halt.
The injured parties were taken either to Ben Taub Hospital or St. Joseph’s Hospital for treatment of what was described as “non-life-threatening injuries”. Ironically, the truck was delivering sand for a subcontractor working on improvements for the MetroRail line.