May 19, 2013
A Local 8 Weather Alert has been issued for today. Because of the threat of rain, thunder and even hail, outdoor activities may be disrupted or inconvenienced. What's going on? An upper-level low will be moving across East Tennessee today, creating a more unstable atmosphere.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A heavyweight collision at a west Knoxville railroad crossing early Tuesday afternoon. A CSX train smashed with Keck Enterprise semi carrying an earth mover shortly before two o'clock, according to Knoxville Fire Department spokesperson D.J. Corcoran.
The crash blocked Jackson Road for several hours.
The driver told authorities he was heading West across the tracks when the flatbed he was towing bottomed out, trapping him on the crossing.
When driver heard the train's whistle and saw the cross bars lower, he jumped out of the truck as the South bound train approached. He made it clear and was unharmed as the train plowed into the stranded semi, Corcoran said. He added that no one on the train was reportedly injured either.
A KFD Hazardous Material Unit was called to the scene to help clean up a small amount of diesel fuel leaking from the truck's saddle tanks.
Police spokesperson Darrell DeBusk said no charges will be filed against either the truck's driver 49 year-old Thomas Bolden, of New Market, or the train's engineer J.T. Sutton.
