Big Rig And Amtrak Train Collide In Solano County
SOLANO COUNTY (CBS13) -- There were major delays after a train slammed into a big rig on the tracks.
The driver of the big rig and passengers on an Amtrak train consider themselves lucky to be alive after the train hit the truck this morning.
"It was the brakes; just went through that truck like butter I guess," said a passenger.
Aboard the train, Mike Pederson hardly felt the collision that rocked Mark Manley's truck.
"It jerked me around; well you could see the wreck of that trailer. The rest of the trailer's on the back still hooked to my truck," said Manley. "If it would have hit me, I would have been said."
Mark says that when he stopped at the intersection of Vanden and Canon Roads southeast of Vacaville, the crossing arms were up and no train was in sight.
"I was looking both ways, and when I pulled up someone was honking. When I looked back in my mirror I saw the crossing arm come down behind me. And I looked to the right and I saw the train coming," said Manley.
With his rear trailer still partially across the tracks, Mark hit the gas, but he couldn't get out of the way in time. The Amtrak smashed into the big rig splitting the trailer from the truck. The CHP say it's fortunate the train didn't derail. It was carrying 290 passengers at the time.
"I don't have any tickets. I'm a safe driver. I've been doing this my whole life," said Manley.
The damaged train stopped on the tracks a few hundred yards away from impact and passengers were delayed several hours. But, in the wake of last month's deadly Amtrak-big rig crash in Nevada, there was plenty of relief that this time everyone walked away
Officials with Amtrak say the tracks will have to be inspected to make sure there's no serious damage before trains are allowed to pass.
The driver of the train suffered minor injuries and Manley complained of minor pain, but no one had to be hospitalized.
