A truck driver lost his life today when his dump truck was hit by a freight train hauling coal in Missouri, causing the train to derail.
Train vs dump truck crash with derailment on Old HWY 79 north of Foley in Lincoln Co. Avoid the area! pic.twitter.com/TRApCUbc2G
— MSHP Troop C (@MSHPTrooperC) May 5, 2017
The crash happened around noon near Foley, Missouri. According to police, the dump truck driver was trying to cross the train tracks at the intersection of Highway Y and Old Highway 79 when a BSNF train with two locomotives and more than 100 cars crashed into the truck. The force of the crash reportedly split the dump truck in half and caused around 30 cars to derail and spill coal.
The truck driver initially survived the crash but later passed away as a result of his injuries at a hospital.
A BNSF spokesman said that there were no injuries reported on the train.
Authorities have not yet released information on the cause of the crash.