Four die as train hits veterans' parade in Texas

[John Ashworth]

Four die as train hits veteran's [sic] parade in Texas

National Transportation Safety Board investigating crash at railroad crossing in Midland

Associated Press in Midland, Texas
guardian.co.uk, Friday 16 November 2012 01.31 GMT

Four people have been killed and 17 others injured after a train smashed into a parade float heading to a Texas event honouring wounded veterans.

City of Midland spokesman Ryan Stout said the crash happened at a Union Pacific railroad crossing at about 4.30pm on Thursday.

Stout said 10 of those injured were in critical condition at Midland Memorial hospital, while the seven others were in stable condition.

National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Peter Knudson said the agency was investigating.

The parade was supposed to end at a Hunt for Heroes banquet. The wounded service members were then going to participate in a deer-hunting trip this weekend.


Four die as train hits US parade float in Texas

16 November 2012 Last updated at 01:55 GMT BBC

Four people have been killed and 17 others injured after a freight train in Texas hit a parade float on its way to an event honouring wounded veterans.

Officials in the city of Midland say the crash happened at a Union Pacific railroad crossing at about 16:30 local time (22:30 GMT) on Thursday.

Ten of those injured are in a critical condition.

The float, carrying US veterans and their wives, was on its way to the Hunt for Heroes banquet.

The veterans were then going to participate in an all-weekend hunting trip.

Panic

National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Peter Knudson says his agency is investigating the crash.

Witness

According to officials, the float hit by the train was the second flat-bed lorry being pulled along the parade route, the Midland Reporter-Telegram reported.

"I've been through five combat tours, and this is worse than probably, getting blown up," Michael Morris, who said a good friend had died in the accident, told the Odessa-American.

Panic reportedly swept through those on the trailer as the locomotive approached.

Patricia Howle, who was waiting at a nearby traffic light, told KOSA-TV: "People on the trailer saw the train coming and they were flying in every direction.

"I covered my face. I didn't want to see."

Union Pacific officials said the eastbound train was sounding its horn before it hit the float.

Spokesman Tom Lange said their preliminary investigation indicates the crossing gate and lights were working at the time, though he said he did not know if the train crew had seen the float approaching.

"There is going to be a very thorough investigation," Mr Lange said. "It's obviously a very tragic incident."

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Texas records raise question about warning before train crash

The Texas railroad crossing where four U.S. military veterans were killed this month during a parade was designed to give 30 seconds warning but gave only 20...