Train Hits Dump Truck, Derails at Dangerous, Unguarded California Crossing
(Goshen, California – November 21, 2011)
The locomotive and first two cars of a San Joaquin Valley Railroad freight train derailed Monday after striking a dump truck attempting to cross the dangerous, unguarded crossing of County Road 60 just west of Goshen, CA, injuring the truck driver and creating a sizeable diesel fuel spill at the crash site.
The train was eastbound and the truck southbound at the crossing, which, on June 6, 2011 claimed the life of a 32-year-old mother and seriously injured her young daughter when their vehicle was struck by a SJRR freight train on their way to school. Monday’s accident was the crossing’s fourth, which have produced two injuries in addition to the two occurring this year, yet still has no lights, bells or gates, relying only on standard railroad crossbuck signs to “protect” motorists from trains.
The train pushed the truck about 100 feet before derailing. The truck’s 25-year-old driver, who was not identified, was taken to Kaweah Delta Medical Center in Visalia, CA for treatment of moderate injuries.
