On Monday morning, February 13th, 2023 an 18-wheeler and a Union Pacific train collided near the intersection of Fostoria and Midline roads in Splendora, Texas. 21 train cars were derailed in the incident, prompting the Union Pacific hazardous materials team to be called to the site for air quality monitoring. The cause of the crash is not yet clear. One person was reported dead at the scene, while no other injuries were reported. Cleanup is still ongoing and officials are hoping to have the site cleared by Wednesday afternoon. The train line has been shut down until further notice due to the accident.
The incident occurred at roughly 7:30 am on Monday morning and prompted a large response from local officials. Jason Millsaps, executive director of Montgomery County’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management stated that it is not clear if the driver of the truck had failed to yield or if he was unable to move off of the tracks when time ran out. Millsaps said 16 of the train’s 30 cargo cars have derailed but are all sitting upright. He said there is no hazardous materials involved in the incident.
“Union Pacific is on scene assessing the damage and the track but there is no threat to the public,” Millsaps said. “All the cargo is intact.”
The full extent of any damages have yet to be determined, though no immediate injuries have been reported aside from the death of the truck driver. The scene has since been cleared after being shut down for several hours due to debris scattered along I-69/U.S 59 which posed a hazard for other drivers in addition to cleanup efforts from emergency responders.
The crash between an 18-wheeler and Union Pacific train was certainly unexpected and caused considerable disruption in Splendora, Texas Monday morning. Our hearts go out to the driver of the 18-wheeler and his family. Thankfully no other injuries have been reported so far but it’s important for all drivers to remain vigilant while traveling on highways like I-69/U.S 59 which can be dangerous if proper safety protocols are not followed correctly. We hope this accident serves as a reminder for everyone when it comes to highway safety rules and regulations here in Texas – stay alert! If you or someone you know is impacted by this unfortunate incident and in need of legal assistance involving traffic and train accidents, Kherkher Garcia LLP is here for you! Our experienced team offers an extensive background when it comes to negligence litigation so that we can properly fight your case every step of the way.
