| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 6157 | 2011-07-28 | Troop G | Four Injured in Tractor Trailer versus Train Collision |
Troop G News Release - July 28, 2011 Four Injured in Tractor Trailer versus Train Collision Red River - On July 27, 2011, at 2:30 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop G responded to a tractor trailer crash involving a freight train on US 84 just west of LA 1 in Red River Parish. The crash sent four people to a local hospital with minor to serious injuries. According to investigating troopers, 42-year-old Ruben Valdez of Laredo, TX was traveling east on US 84 while operating a 2012 Peterbilt tractor trailer when he approached a railroad crossing. For unknown reasons, Valdez disregarded the active warning signals and continued east onto the tracks. Subsequently, a southbound Union Pacific train collided with the trailer separating it from the tractor. After the collision, the tractor trailer, which was unloaded at the time of the crash, came to rest off the roadway. The engines and several train cars loaded with grain and sand derailed; some of which overturned. Fuel tanks on the engine, which were damaged in the crash, leaked and subsequently caught on fire. After the fires were extinguished, cleanup crews were called to the scene to safely remove the spilled load and fuel. US 84 at its intersection with LA 1 in Red River Parish will be closed until further notice while emergency crews work to clear the wreckage and repair damages. For around the clock, up to date road closure information, motorists can dial 511 or go on line to www.511La.org from any computer or web-enabled mobile device. State Police reminds motorists to always “Look, Listen, and Live,” when approaching a railroad grade crossing. Visit www.oli.org for more information and safety tips for motorists and pedestrians regarding rail safety. A motorist is almost 20 times more likely to die in a crash involving a train than in a collision involving a motor vehicle. | |||
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