# I was in a train accident this morning (and obviously okay) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 20, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173 "2004-09-20T19:23:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/1 "2004-09-20T19:23:44Z")
I knew I should have stayed home. I overslept and debated just telecommuting in instead of rushing for the train but I decided against it and just barely made the train. I had just fallen asleep when I woke up to the train jerking to a very shaky and smokey stop. I jumped out of my seat, and looked out the window to see the third rail showering sparks at the car I was in. So I moved away from the window. Turns out we hit an empty truck carrier. [The story is here](http://www.wnbc.com/traffic/3743761/detail.html) (and I’m in picture 12 of the slideshow, but basically unrecognizable since it’s an aerial shot (lower right hand corner, standing by myself, unsurprisingly)) but apparently the truck - who was on a highway he didn’t belong on - got stuck on the tracks and called a tow truck to come move him. He was waiting for the tow but apparently didn’t think to call the number given on the signal to let the train authorities know. Unfortunately, the crossing is just after a bend in the line, and the conductor had absolutely no warning. By the time he saw the truck, he had it. 20 injuries, described as minor, a lot of frazzled nerves, but luckily no one seems to have been seriously hurt. I decided to come home. Can you blame me? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chimpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@Chimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimpy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/2 "2004-09-20T19:28:53Z")
It’s good to know that you’re ok TellMeI’mNotCrazy, and i don’t think anyone blames you for staying home 😛 ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/3 "2004-09-20T20:07:58Z")
You wouldn’t believe how many NTSB reports I’ve read regarding vehicles getting hung up at rail crossings. Nobody ever calls or seems to think about the train until the moment of :eek: The train never loses. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/4 "2004-09-20T20:32:52Z")
Did you have to slap the person sitting next to you stop them from screaming? ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/5 "2004-09-20T20:37:00Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Did you have to slap the person sitting next to you stop them from screaming? Nah, I was deprived of that fun, unfortunately 😉 More seriously, though, apparently there were quite a few panic attacks in some of the other cars. I, as an anxiety attack sufferer, am quite pleased to say that I kept my cool quite well. I was even proud of myself for thinking quickly enough to move away from the window before trying to work out exactly what had happened. I did make a few new friends though, which was pretty cool. Normally commuting is such an impersonal thing, getting to know some of the people I see every single day was nifty. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/6 "2004-09-20T20:45:52Z")
Glad to hear you are okay. Take care of yourself this evening. From experience, my own and that of others, sometimes you get the shakes later on, when you are alone. And if you were banged up at all take a couple of Tylenol or something, before going to bed. ---
**Author:** ![LVgeogeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b19c9b/32.png) [@LVgeogeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVgeogeek)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2004, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/7 "2004-09-20T21:10:13Z")
**TMINC** -I’m glad to hear that you are okay, with the exception a few frazzled nerves! Somedays it is better to just stay in bed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/8 "2004-09-20T21:32:14Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > (and I’m in picture 12 of the slideshow, but basically unrecognizable since it’s an aerial shot (lower right hand corner, standing by myself, unsurprisingly)) I expected you to be taller. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/9 "2004-09-20T23:49:40Z")
Always a good thing when everybody survives a train wreck. There was another car-carrier/train collision last week near Ventura, California. Again all were safe, except for four [_Vintage Porsches_](http://www.topix.net/redir/loc=story/http=3A=2F=2Fwww.aiada.org=2Farticle.asp=3Fid=3D22903=26cat=3DDealers) being transported by the carrier which were quite destroyed by the train punching through the center of the truck trailer. > [@](#): > > The vintage Porsches “are close to totaled, if not totaled. > The train center-punched the trailer carrying the cars and split the trailer in half, and the cars went flying.” What a waste. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/10 "2004-09-21T03:25:50Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > The train never loses. 😉 While I’d agree that the vehicle in the crossing never wins, sometimes the train loses as well. Usually it’s when the train hits a tanker truck. From this [page](http://www.ble.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=3949): > [@](#): > > CLEVELAND, June 28 – [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen] Division 230 (Meridian, Miss.) member Dennis Vinson was killed in a collision between his Norfolk Southern train and a gasoline tanker truck on June 25. He was 58 years old. > > The train had a three-man crew. The train’s conductor, Anthony J. “Tony” Mills, 58, was also killed in the accident, and the brakeman, Charles LaBella, 58, jumped off the rear of the train and suffered minor injuries, police said. The driver of the truck, Henry Blount, also died. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/11 "2004-09-21T09:28:58Z")
I’m glad to hear you and everyone else is ok. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/12 "2004-09-21T09:58:47Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > The train never loses. 😉 [Yeah, sometimes it does](http://www.newsteel.com/news/NW980814.htm) Fortunately, I take a later train than that one in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/13 "2004-09-21T11:16:14Z")
Who has carriage of the matter? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/14 "2004-09-21T11:36:05Z")
Is that the southeast line? I go up to Valhalla every week or two on Metro North. ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/15 "2004-09-21T13:17:32Z")
**TellMeImNotCrazy** , I’m very happy that you’re all right. And I’m sure no one begrudges you taking a day or two off. Now you just relax and use that time to think about what _you_ could have done to prevent the catastrophe if you hadn’t been sleeping. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/16 "2004-09-21T13:50:28Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > Is that the southeast line? I go up to Valhalla every week or two on Metro North. That’s the one. I get on at Brewster. Thanks everyone for your good thoughts 🙂 I did come into work today, thinking I had a meeting this morning, but of course it was postponed. Service is fully restored to the line; they’re still working on fixing the crossing though so that’s still closed. Hmmm, if I hadn’t been sleeping, I probably would have leapt into the lap of the nearest person (apparently most of the people who were awake in my car realized the situation just before it happened), which would have been a catastrophe in its own right 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/17 "2004-09-21T14:00:16Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > [Yeah, sometimes it does](http://www.newsteel.com/news/NW980814.htm) > > Fortunately, I take a later train than that one in the morning. That incident is why I don’t sit in the lead car. I remember seeing that on the news at the time, yikes. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/18 "2004-09-21T14:25:02Z")
> [@Ferret Herder](#): > > That incident is why I don’t sit in the lead car. I remember seeing that on the news at the time, yikes. You know, pretty much everytime I take a subway or Metro North, I always try to get to the front. I like looking out the window. I guess me and the train operator will be the first to go. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/19 "2004-09-21T14:38:51Z")
There are only 10 pictures in the slideshow. At least when I checked. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173/20 "2004-09-21T14:40:26Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > There are only 10 pictures in the slideshow. At least when I checked. Sorry- there are 2 slideshows, & I was checking out the interior shots. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-in-a-train-accident-this-morning-and-obviously-okay/265173.md?page=2)