A truck driver lost his life near Cocoa, Florida, yesterday after his rig was struck by a train.
The incident happened just before noon in Brevard County.
Trucker Crossed Lowered Traffic Arm “For Unknown Reasons”, Police Say
According to reports from the Florida Highway Patrol, 49 year old truck driver Steven Tobinson was hauling rocks from a quarry eastbound on Beau Geste Road when he came to a railroad crossing.
Police say that the signal was activated and that the traffic arm was in a lowered position but that Robinson “for unknown reasons” tried to drive around the arm. Robinson was unable to get through the railroad crossing in time and was hit by a northbound train traveling at 25 – 30 m.p.h.
Train, tractor-trailer collide in Cocoa https://t.co/sk0OKx1QtW pic.twitter.com/ofEbcvjnMW
— WESH 2 News (@WESH) November 20, 2017
The train struck the trailer of the truck, dragging it and slamming the cab into a nearby battery box. Robinson was ejected during the crash and thrown about 100 feet from his truck.
Robinson was taken to the hospital, where he passed away on Monday evening.
The train conductor and engineer suffered only minor injuries.
Train vs semi in Cocoa near US 1 and 528. Traffic slowed SB US 1. #FOX35 pic.twitter.com/c7JpGdjPfb
— Derrol Nail (@Fox35DerrolNail) November 20, 2017
The force of the crash caused the train to derail.
The Florida Highway Patrol is still investigating the incident.
In September, the FMCSA shared a video that explains a commercial driver’s responsibility when approaching a railroad crossing. You can click here to view the video.