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Nevada Semi Truck Collides with Amtrak Train, Killing at Least 6

Posted on Jun 27, 2011

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating a crash that happened last Friday morning near Lovelock, Nevada, involving a semi truck and an Amtrak passenger train. The train was traveling from Chicago to California, carrying approximately 204 passengers and 14 crew members. Six people were killed in the accident, including a conductor, the driver of the truck, and four passengers onboard the train. Five others are still missing.

The train was traveling at 75 mph, and according to witnesses, the crossing signals were functioning, but the truck driver didn't appear to respond to the oncoming train until it was too late. Investigators will have to wait for the autopsy and toxicology reports before they can determine whether the driver's reaction to the train was affected by any drugs or other substances.

The truck was owned by John Davis Trucking Company, based out of Battle Mountain, Nevada. The company, which specializes in hauling ore from local mines, has had 19 inspections, seven of which have resulted in the company receiving fines for violations. One of the company's trucks was removed from the road because its tires were so bald that it posed a danger to other drivers. Two other crashes involving the company's trucks were due to unsafe driving by the company's drivers.

NHTSA will look into the driver's history to determine whether he had any past safety violations. But according to Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Chuck Allen, "Anybody should have seen that train coming." He added that usually these types of accidents are caused by distracted or fatigued drivers.

If the NHTSA finds that the driver was fatigued, the agency may face harsh criticism of its current rules regarding the number of hours a semi truck driver can be on the road.

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