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Amtrak's westbound Empire Builder struck a pick-up truck at 6:53 a.m. Saturday at Larimore, 33 miles west of Grand Forks on the BNSF, Fatally injuring the truck's two occupants. There were no injuries to the train crew or passengers. The grade crossing is protected by crossbucks.
The trainwas delayed over four hours. A BNSF device was needed to cut the vehicle away from the lead unit, which sustained plow damaged but was deemed roadworthy.
Because of the delay, the train terminated at spokane, with the passengers bused beyond to seattle, Portland, or intermediate destinations. The next eastbound Empire Builder originated in Spokane, with passengers bused in from stations to the west.
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Any accident or collision with a fatality seems to have at a minimum a 1-1/2 hour delay. This is true even for suicides or trespassers where a person is hit by a train.
Posts: 874 | From: South Bay (LA County), Calif, USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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For clarity's sake, the pickup truck struck the nose of the train with its side. It was the pickup truck that was where it was not supposed to be—the train was exactly where it was supposed to be.
Posts: 566 | Registered: Mar 2002
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Wow. The Builder just can't get a break lately. Yesterday it seems as thought a passenger had to be removed due to belligerence towards crew and making unwelcome, suggestive advances towards some of the female passengers. Dissappointing to read that, in addition to reading of how on one recent Builder, ALL of the sleepers were Bad Ordered upon arrival into Chicago, forcing some creative equipment re-arrangements. When I took my trip between Red Wing and Milwaukee this past weekend, I couldn't have asked for a better trip. Oh, Well. I guess it just goes to show that one trian trip is nothing at all like the others, and things can change without prior warning.
Posts: 506 | From: Wisconsin | Registered: Mar 2002
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