Cleburne Times-Review, Cleburne, TX

March 9, 2009

Godley train wreck scatters vehicles hauled by tractor trailer

By Matt Smith/msmith@trcle.com

Several new cars and trucks may soon be available at greatly reduced prices.

A train struck a tractor trailer hauling the vehicles on Friday morning in Godley splitting the trailer in half and flinging several vehicles on either side of the track.

Neither the truck’s driver nor the train operators suffered injury in the accident, police said.

The accident occurred about 9 a.m. at the railroad crossing of Hadley Street and Texas 171. The location has no crossing arms.

The tractor-trailer driver told police he did not hear or see the train, said James Healy, chief administrator of the Godley Police Department.

Healy said the train was traveling slowly at the time.

The train engine dragged the back end of the split trailer several yards past the crossing before coming to a stop with the trailer stuck sideways to the train and several of the vehicles still secured on the trailer. The impact knocked several of the vehicles from the trailer.

The tractor and front half of the split trailer came to rest lodged against one of the box cars on the other side of the train.

Godley police and fire and others worked to free the wreckage from the train to allow it to continue on its way.