Local
Amtrak Train Splits Semi-Truck in Half at Douglas County Crossing; No Injuries Reported
An Amtrak train carrying 90 passengers struck a semi-truck hauling aluminum products at a Douglas County railroad crossing on Thursday, splitting the trailer in two but leaving everyone unharmed. The crash is the third train-versus-truck collision in metro Atlanta in just over a week, raising fresh questions about crossing safety.
DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. â An Amtrak passenger train collided with a semi-truck at a railroad crossing in Douglas County on Thursday, splitting the truck in half but causing no injuries, authorities said.
The crash occurred in the area of Veterans Memorial Highway and Municipal Parkway, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The train was carrying 90 passengers at the time, and neither they nor the truck driver were hurt, a tow truck driver working to remove the wreckage told local reporters at the scene.
The impact left the semi-truck severed in two, with its trailer and cab separated. The truck was hauling aluminum products, according to the tow operator. The Amtrak locomotive sustained only minor damage and was able to leave the scene under its own power.
By 11:30 a.m., Veterans Memorial Highway had reopened to traffic, but the railroad crossing at Municipal Parkway remained closed as crews continued cleanup and inspection. The sheriff's office urged drivers to use caution in the area.
The collision is the third involving a train and a truck in metro Atlanta in roughly a week. Recent days have seen similar crashes in Clayton and DeKalb counties, where tractor-trailers collided with trains, scattering debris and blocking roads. The string of incidents has drawn attention to the safety of the region's numerous at-grade railroad crossings, where road traffic intersects with freight and passenger rail lines.
Amtrak and local law enforcement had not released further details about the circumstances of Thursday's crash as of midday, including whether the truck was stopped on the tracks or whether warning signals were functioning. The investigation is ongoing.
For residents of Douglas County and the broader metro area, the repeated crashes underscore the risks posed by crossings that lack full separation from road traffic. Safety advocates have long argued that upgrading or closing dangerous at-grade crossings should be a priority, particularly as freight and passenger rail traffic increases.
No further information was immediately available.