February 8th, 2013 | 
Author: BELL TOWNSHIP, PA. — A Norfolk Southern freight train partially derailed after colliding with a tractor trailer on Tuesday Feb 5, in Bell Township Pennsylvania.
Photo Credit: KDKA News
The accident occurred on Tuesday morning on Bridge Street in Bell Township after authorities say the driver of the tractor trailer got lost all because a GPS system had apparently not been updated.
Authorities said that the impact was so intense it ripped the back of the tractor trailer off, derailed several locomotives and knocked a few freight cars off the rails.
“What happened is, the driver, not familiar with the area, was relying on his GPS to get to get him to Avonmore, his next stop was Avonmore,” said Dan Stevens, of Westmoreland County Emergency Services. “The road here was originally the road that went to Avonmore, but it has been closed for years. A GPS unit wasn’t giving the right information, and he thought he was heading in the right direction.”
The freight train did not have any time to stop and crashed into the semi truck. When the conductor slammed on the breaks, it caused the train to derail.
The media reported that the driver of the tractor trailer suffered head injuries, but no railroad worker injuries were reported at the time of the accident.
The incident remains under investigation at this time.
Source: KDKA Pittsburgh Local News
Blog post by Gordon & Elias, a FELA lawyer and Pennsylvania railroad injury lawyer who publishes train accidents and FELA legal news from across the United States.
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