(North Salt Lake, Utah – July 11, 2011)
A double semi-trailer truck hauling empty propane containers was struck by a Big West Oil refinery train as it crossed the in-plant railroad’s intersection with Center Street in North Salt Lake, UT about 9:15 A.M. Monday morning.
The crossings has neither gates nor flashing lights, but only yield signs to warn motorists that they should look for trains.
The train, which was performing switching operations at the time, struck the second of the trucks tandem trailer, overturning it and striking a power pole, increasing the potential danger, despite authorities having assured the media that empty containers pose no fire or explosion hazard. The truck driver escaped injury, but one member of the train’s crew was transported to Intermountain Medical Center in critical condition.
