Filed: 01/06/2001

The Bakersfield Californian

A big-rig hauling 50,000 pounds of freshly-picked oranges
was broadsided by a train east of Bakersfield Friday
afternoon, tearing the truck in two and covering the
ground with fruit.

The truck's first trailer had just crested the tracks at a
private crossing near the intersection of Edison and Tejon
highways when the wreck occurred.

According to railroad police, the driver of the truck,
51-year-old Francisco S. Sanchez, did not see the
eastbound train as he began to cross at 12:15 p.m.

The small, unmarked crossing does not have the warning
gates and lights that are common at larger intersections.

"He just drove up there and didn't see the train coming,"
said Larry Winders, a senior special agent with the Union
Pacific Railroad Police.

When Sanchez finally did spot the train, he had only
enough time to leap from his vehicle before the impact,
Winders said. Sanchez suffered superficial injuries and
was expected to be discharged from Kern Medical Center
Friday night, hospital officials said.

The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe train's speed was
roughly 40 mph when the wreck occurred, according to
Bob Alexander, a grade crossing safety coordinator for
the railway company.

"It's a good thing (the driver) got out of that truck,"
Alexander said, looking at the shattered big rig. "You've
got to look both ways when you cross."

The force of the wreck ripped one of the truck's two
trailers in half. The second trailer was spun around and
ended up beside the tracks.

Pickers who had pulled the oranges from the trees earlier
that day spent several hours gathering the crops a
second time. The oranges were expected to be eventually
shipped to a packing house in Riverside.

After a brief delay, the train was able to continue.