NTSB Preliminary Report On Deadly Midland Train Accident
By: Karel Davis
Updated: December 5, 2012
The National Transportation Safety Board is issuing its preliminary report on last month's deadly train crash in Midland that killed four people. Investigators say the tractor-trailer being used as a parade float drove onto the railroad crossing at an estimated speed of 5 mph. At the same time, a Union Pacific freight train approached the railroad crossing. A video camera and external microphone mounted on the lead locomotive recorded the train moving at 62 mph, as well as, the parade float on the railroad crossing. Investigators say the engineer then sounded the locomotive horn ... put the brakes into an emergency application ... and traveled a little over 4,000 feet before coming to a stop. The train hit the right rear of the float, pushing it into a car occupied by a sheriff's deputy. Four parade float passengers were killed and more than a dozen others were injured.
