05/18/2010 // West Palm Beach, Florida, USA // Sandra Quinlan // Sandra Quinlan
Detroit, MI—Investigators are investigating whether driver error or a malfunction in railway crossing signals caused an accident Friday, May 14, 2010. The truck-train collision occurred in southwest Detroit, Michigan and left four people injured, as reported by WXYZ.com and the Detroit Free Press.
According to information provided, a semi-truck driven by 59-year-old Asqari Veizag crossed onto the railroad tracks on Mellon. Upon doing so, a Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) train smashed into his 18-wheeler at approximately 5:40 a.m.
The train conductor, his assistant, and an engineer were aboard the locomotive at the time. All three reportedly complained of bumps and bruises, as well as back pain.
The driver of the rig, who is employed by Detroit-based Alco Transportation, suffered an unspecified injury to his forehead. Veizag was apparently transporting steel coils to Lansing, Michigan when the violent truck-trail wreck occurred.
It was not stated if emergency medical personnel transported the injured individuals to area hospitals after the crash.
The train’s conductor, identified as 38-year-old Todd Williams, reportedly called his wife Noel after the accident. According to Noel Williams, “He was all shaken up, he said his back was hurting… They were on their normal route, next thing they knew, the truck came plowing right into them.”
While Veizag allegedly claimed he did not notice any warning signals at the crossing, Norfolk Southern sources apparently stated otherwise. A full investigation will be required to conclude who may have been at fault in the collision.
Information provided by Operation Lifesaver revealed that in 2009, there were 48 crashes on Michigan railway crossings. Of these accidents, 12 victims suffered fatal injuries. Operation Lifesaver is a public awareness campaign, which advocates railway safety. It was created as a step towards reducing, if not eliminating, the total number of locomotive-related accidents.
Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan- Legal News for Michigan Train Accident Lawyers.
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