[Video] Train Collides with Tractor Trailer in Haverstraw

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HAVERSTRAW, NEW YORK – A freight train collided with a truck stuck on the tracks in Haverstraw, New York, on Thursday morning. The incident, which occurred at the intersection of Route 202 and Westside Avenue, resulted in no injuries.

According to the Haverstraw police department, the collision happened Thursday morning when a truck driver got stuck on the tracks while attempting to make a turn. The driver then abandoned the vehicle before the oncoming train collided with it.

The collision sent debris flying in all directions. Several nearby homes were evacuated, and the road was closed for several hours, causing significant traffic delays.

CSX Transportation, the freight rail company operating the train, released a statement:

At approximately 9:20 a.m. this morning, a CSX train struck an unoccupied vehicle on the railroad tracks at New Main Street in Haverstraw, NY. No injuries were reported. CSX personnel are cooperating with the Haverstraw Police, who are investigating this incident.

Haverstraw police have launched an investigation into the accident. A spokesperson for the police department said, “We are investigating the circumstances of the incident, and we are working closely with our partners to ensure the safety of the community.”

In a statement from Rockland County Executive Ed Day:

“Drivers need to heed extra caution when traveling over train tracks and should never, ever, proceed to wait for a traffic light on train tracks. Always maintain a safe distance from the crossing gates and only cross train tracks if you’re able to safely get to the other side.

As a former police commander, I understand and appreciate exactly how much hard work is going into securing a scene of this magnitude and thank our emergency responders for their quick response and assistance to this accident.”

Rockland County Legislature Chairperson Jay Hood Jr. also issued a statement:

“I want to thank the Haverstraw Police Department for its swift action this morning in making sure the driver of the truck that was caught on the railroad tracks was out of the vehicle before the train collided with it. A video of the accident shows it may not have been a survivable crash.

This could have been a horrific tragedy, but smart thinking and quick action, including blocking other cars and pedestrians from entering the area, prevented that outcome. I’m sure the driver of the truck and the driver of the train are shook up and I hope they’ll both be okay. Thank you to everyone who went to the scene in case there were other victims. It’s no surprise to me, and I’m sure many others, that the community really pulled together because that is what Haverstraw is all about.”

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of rail transportation,. In recent years, there have been several high-profile accidents involving trains that resulted in deaths and injuries.

Residents in the area have expressed their concerns about the safety of the rail crossing.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration, there were 112 railroad crossing incidents in New York state in 2021, resulting in 19 deaths and 49 injuries.

In the words of one Haverstraw resident, “We’re just lucky no one was hurt this time.”