Sheriff says trucker parked on tracks waiting for traffic prior to fatal train vs. semi crash
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office in Texas says that a truck driver perished in a fiery collision with a train on Wednesday morning.
The crash occurred shortly before 8 a.m. near Huffman, Texas.
According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzales, a train hit an “eighteen wheeler/flat-bed trailer” at 12299 FM 1960 Road at FM 2100.
Update: Big rig driver killed in crash with train in the Huffman area, sheriff says — here’s the view from Air 11 just now https://t.co/9joyV8oIu8 #KHOU11 pic.twitter.com/ONtEWYuGJu
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) September 8, 2021
The truck caught fire soon after the crash.
The truck driver died at the scene, according to police.
“It appears the truck driver was parked on the tracks, in line with other vehicles, waiting for the traffic when train was approaching. The lanes adjacent to the tracks will be shut down for several hours due to scene investigation,” Gonzales said.
A few remnants of the devastating collision. It appears the truck driver was parked on the tracks, in line with other vehicles, waiting for the traffic when train was approaching. The lanes adjacent to the tracks will be shut down for several hours due to scene investigation. https://t.co/JTgr5hq3Tj pic.twitter.com/R1Vy1xXucR
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) September 8, 2021
Shortly after 10 a.m., the Texas Department of Transportation warned drivers to expect lengthy road closures in the area: “FM 1960 westbound at FM 2100 and FM 2100 at FM 1960 in both directions all lanes closed due to heavy truck/ hazmat/ train crash. This is south of Huffman and north of Crosby. Seek alternate route. Crews expect incident to take 4-6 hours to clear.”