Midland Train Crash

Show of Support Train Crash Interviews detailed by NTSB
Interviews by the National Transportation Safety Board with the truck driver involved in the Nov. 15 Show of Support parade train crash detail the driver’s experience — revealing that he tried to drive away from the incoming train but the railroad crossing arms prevented him from doing so.
Hayden said he kept looking at his left mirror to see when the tires cleared the crossing. He then check his right mirror and noticed flashing lights, which didn’t register in his mind at first, he said.
“And then I noticed, when I looked down the railroad track, I saw a train but it looked like it was just sitting there,” Hayden said to the interviewers. “I didn’t – I didn’t see it moving or anything. To me, it was just sitting there.”
Hayden then noticed – from his right-hand side view mirror – that the crossing arms were starting to descend and something was pushing it back up. He said he was thinking of taking off when the arm when back up, but then saw everyone jumping off and then the impact occurred.
Hayden told the interviewers he did not know if the horns he heard that day were from the train or the other parade float in front of him, He also did not know what color the traffic lights were at the intersection of Front Street and Garfield Street, or any other light along the parade route. He also did not hear the bells at the railroad crossing.
Drug and alcohol testing the day of the accident showed Hayden was apparently not impaired in any way.

Source:  Mywesttexas website

 The disturbing character of this accident touched everyone here in West Texas.  As the NTSB tries to piece together what happened, it looks to be a case of an individual overwhelmed by the circumstances and unable to react.  Mr. Hayden obviously intended no harm to his passengers, and the timing on the railroad warnings and crossing arms is in contention, as to whether they were appropriate, according to the suit that was filed.  It will be interesting to see what discovery in that suit reveals.  Our heart goes out to the veterans and their families as they try to put their lives back together.

 Mike Borland.

 

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