Christmas is coming soon but it won’t bother the residents of Collegedale, a small town in Hamilton County, Tennessee. Earlier this week, a major accident between a train and a semi shocked the local community but luckily no one was seriously injured. Dramatic footage of the crash can be seen at the top of this page.
Local News 3 reported the accident occurred yesterday around 12.30 local time at the intersection of Apison Pike and University Drive. The video above shows the moment of the crash and we see how the semi hauling large concrete blocks was unable to clear the tracks and was hit by a Norfolk Southern train. A 60-foot concrete barrier was moved to new construction on Apison Pike.
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Hamilton County EMS spokeswoman Amy Maxwell told Local News 3 that three locomotives and 10 boxcars derailed and large amounts of diesel spilled. The Chattanooga Fire Department said in a Twitter posts that personnel are trying to reduce leakage of diesel and lubricating oil. Fortunately, no other hazardous materials are listed on the site and there is no threat to the public.
Local News 3 also reported roads in the area remain closed as there will surely be a long process of clearing the rubble. Drivers should consider alternative routes as local officials say the closures are not ending anytime soon. Two Norfolk Southern employees have been taken to a local hospital with minor injuries, although their condition is currently unknown.
Bad planning, someone’s mistake, or just a bad coincidence? We don’t know what the reason for this accident is but it looks scary. This is one of the most dramatic videos we’ve seen lately and it’s a small miracle that no one was seriously hurt.
