PENDLETON — A train smashed into a truck near Madison Avenue and State Road 67 today.
The accident took place at about 5:30 p.m., after the tractor-trailer turned off State Road 67 onto westbound Madison Avenue.
There were no injuries, Pendleton Fire Chief Jeff Moore said.
“Southbound train hit a tractor-trailer that was trying to make the crossing at Madison Avenue and got stuck,” Moore said.
The driver exited the truck, Moore said, and was able to escape physical harm. He said he heard the driver was able to disengage the truck’s hitch before the train hit so the trailer didn’t get pulled down the track by the locomotive.
“There was a fire in the tractor that we put out, and they’re currently trying to clean up the mess and get the trains back on,” Moore said at about 8 p.m.
The CSX train dragged the tractor down the tracks while the trailer remained back at the crossing with the stop arm resting on top of it.
By the time the train stopped, there were 12 rail cars in addition to two engines past the point of collision.
The railroad tracks run parallel to State Road 67 and — at Madison Avenue — are about 50 feet west of State Road 67 .
Multiple area agencies responded to the call, which was still listed as active after 10:30 p.m.
