Truck and train collide

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — A train and a truck collided on Wednesday, leading to a shutdown of parts of Watson Boulevard for several days.

According to a release by the Warner Robins Police Department, at around 3:30 p.m. on May 10, officers responded to the west side of the railroad crossing on Watson Boulevard near Highway 247.

A flatbed wrecker truck was traveling eastbound over the tracks, when the railroad’s crossing arm lowered itself between the truck’s cab and the vehicle it was towing. Unable to move past the tracks, the driver left the vehicle before the collision and was not injured.

Warner Robins Police, Fire Department, and EMS responded to the scene. Representatives from Norfolk Southern, the company operating the train, responded as well.

Both the wrecker truck and locomotive were damaged from the collision. The police department had Watson Boulevard closed west of 2nd Street during the cleanup efforts. The truck was removed from the scene; meanwhile, Norfolk Southern brought another train to remove the rail cars via a side track.

According to Lt. Eric Gossman, police were on scene for several hours after the collision. In light of the incident, Gossman advises the public to use common sense and play it safe around trains and railroad crossings.

“Don’t underestimate the power of the train. They cannot stop like a car,” Gossman advised. “Stop at the light unless you can get completely across the tracks at the intersection. There’s a stoplight, and that is the guide if you cannot get across the tracks all the way.”

The crossing guard was heavily damaged from the collision. As a result, Watson Boulevard at the railroad crossing was closed on Wednesday and Thursday while Norfolk Southern made repairs.

HHJ News