Race Day Live (Auburn, WA ) – A driver and his passenger had a tight escape when their tractor-trailer became trapped on train lines near Auburn, Wash., on Saturday, Jan. 18.
According to a police release, the driver made a “wrong turn and got stuck on the train tracks at 29th B NW” at approximately 10.18 a.m. local time. The couple were able to “safely” exit their vehicle at the last second as an Amtrak train carrying 157 passengers rushed towards them.
The guys involved, identified as Chris B. and Arkeen Young by local TV channel KIRO, informed the outlet that they were following directions on their phone when they were wedged between another tractor-trailer and railway tracks. According to Chris B., the incoming train was difficult to see due to the January weather.
It was real foggy. The only thing we could see from the train was just the lights, that’s it,” he told the outlet. “We couldn’t really tell how fast it was coming. I seen it coming. I don’t know how fast. I just know trains be moving.”
“By the time I looked over, the train was right there, so I just jumped out,” Young added. “Yeah, it was real close, so I had a good three seconds to get out.”
On YouTube, an eyewitness posted footage of the moment the duo decided to run out of the truck, which was then slammed by the Amtrack train.
The truck is seen being viciously ripped apart, with parts flying up to 30 feet ahead.
“I’m like, ‘Yo, forget the truck, man. We got to get out of here, man,’” Chris B. told KIRO. “If he would have stayed on the truck for more than five seconds, it would have been over with.”
Sam Koek, who was on board the train at the time, stated that he felt the impact when it collided with the stalled vehicle.
“The entire driver’s side of the truck was just ripped out of it,” Koek told the outlet.
“It was completely on its side, shattered. There were wires sticking out of the glove compartment,” he continued.
Valley Regional Fire verified on X that the area was being inspected, writing: “There were no injuries, and the scene is still under investigation.”
According to the police report, there were no injuries to passengers or crew aboard the Amtrak train.
A representative for Amtrak said that on Saturday, Jan. 18, Amtrak train 11 was going from Seattle to Los Angeles at approximately 10:17 a.m. PT when an unoccupied vehicle obstructing the track south of Seattle collided with the train.
“There were no reported injuries to the 157 passengers or crew members onboard. Amtrak is working with local law enforcement to investigate the incident,” they continued.
“According to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), trespassing along railroad rights-of-way is the leading cause of rail-related deaths in America, and railroad crossing incidents are the second leading cause of rail-related deaths in America. These incidents can affect everyone involved—those who are injured or die and their families, our train crews, and our passengers.
“They also serve as critical reminders about the importance of obeying the law and of exercising extreme caution around railroad tracks and crossings,” they added. “Amtrak continues to work closely with Operation Lifesaver (OLI) to #STOPTrackTragedies by emphasizing the obvious dangers of being on railroad property or disregarding warnings at rail crossings.”
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