# Veterans parade float hit by train in Midland Texas. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 16, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-parade-float-hit-by-train-in-midland-texas/641157 "2012-11-16T04:13:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-parade-float-hit-by-train-in-midland-texas/641157/1 "2012-11-16T04:13:23Z")
☹☹ Sounds really, really bad. 4 confirmed dead and lots of serious injuries. The vet and their spouse was on the float potentially wiping out the whole family. My heart goes out to the victims. Such a shame. The crossing guard gate never went down. :eek: [http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/4-dead-17-hurt-when-train-hits-W-Texas-vets-4042030.php](http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/4-dead-17-hurt-when-train-hits-W-Texas-vets-4042030.php) > **[Revealed: How heroic veteran killed by an oncoming train during parade saved...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2233746/Midland-Texas-4-dead-17-injured-train-hits-parade-float-carrying-wounded-veterans.html)** > > Sgt Joshua Michael, 34, pushed his wife of 15 years, Daylyn, off the float they were riding to an honorary banquet just moments before a train slammed into the vehicle, killing four people and injuring 16 others. > [@](#): > > Four people were killed and 17 were injured Thursday night after a train struck a Show of Support parade float en route to an annual event at the Midland County Horseshoe. > > Of the 17 injured, 10 were in critical condition and seven were listed in stable condition, officials said Thursday evening. > [@](#): > > However, witnesses reported that the crossing arms never lowered at the intersection, leaving the truck driver and the veterans completely off guard. > > The parade was meant to kick off a weekend of celebration for the veterans, who were supposed to go on an all-expense-paid whitetail deer hunting trip this weekend, while their wives were treated to a weekend out on the town. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-parade-float-hit-by-train-in-midland-texas/641157/2 "2012-11-16T10:03:11Z")
A tragic day. My heart goes out to the victims and the community. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-parade-float-hit-by-train-in-midland-texas/641157/3 "2012-11-16T11:21:16Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The crossing guard gate never went down. :eek: Doesn’t every driver check anyway? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-parade-float-hit-by-train-in-midland-texas/641157/4 "2012-11-16T11:34:51Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Doesn’t every driver check anyway? Obviously not. I looked in Google Earth and the tracks are a straight line for over 2 miles in both directions. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-parade-float-hit-by-train-in-midland-texas/641157/5 "2012-11-16T12:41:52Z")
The truck was a semi and most states require CDL drivers to stop and look at rail road crossings no matter what the status of any crossing control devices. Trucks are loud and if the driver wasn’t paying attention, it is possible that he had no chance of hearing any train warning horn. It doesn’t seem likely that a truck driver would try to ‘beat’ a train with people on the bed of the trailer. This is such a shame that this happened, hopefully the remaining survivors recover. It sounds like many of them may have already been in frail conditions. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-parade-float-hit-by-train-in-midland-texas/641157/6 "2012-11-16T13:17:13Z")
Absolutely horrific. The trailer was the second of two in the parade, so slow-moving to begin with. Possibly the driver was unable to pull forward, and/or unaware of the train as he was already across the tracks and facing away. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-parade-float-hit-by-train-in-midland-texas/641157/7 "2012-11-16T18:39:07Z")
There are a lot of train crossings in Texas that don’t have guard arms, so it may not even be that there was a malfunction - just a driver who wasn’t paying attention, didn’t wait for the first truck to pull forward far enough to get clearance, and didn’t check the tracks. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-parade-float-hit-by-train-in-midland-texas/641157/8 "2012-11-16T19:02:54Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > There are a lot of train crossings in Texas that don’t have guard arms, so it may not even be that there was a malfunction - just a driver who wasn’t paying attention, didn’t wait for the first truck to pull forward far enough to get clearance, and didn’t check the tracks. This crossing has the guard arms. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-parade-float-hit-by-train-in-midland-texas/641157/9 "2012-11-16T19:49:48Z")
I’m puzzled why they had the people on the float when it still needed to cross those tracks. It’s always bumpy getting over train tracks. I know they were assembling for the parade. You’re not supposed to travel far on a float. Just up and down the street. Such a shame. This was supposed to have been such a wonderful weekend event for these people. The guys going hunting and the women a pampered spa weekend. I checked today and so far the death count is 4. There’s a lot of people listed in critical condition. I hope they pull through. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-parade-float-hit-by-train-in-midland-texas/641157/10 "2012-11-16T23:32:39Z")
Just looked at the intersection in Google Maps. I’m guessing it’s another [Fox River](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_Fox_River_Grove_bus%E2%80%93train_collision) incident. ---
**Author:** ![gunnergoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e95f7d/32.png) [@gunnergoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gunnergoz)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-parade-float-hit-by-train-in-midland-texas/641157/11 "2012-11-16T23:48:11Z")
The mere fact of an active railroad line in the route of this parade should have set off alarms in the heads of the affair’s organizers, the local cops and whomever authorized this. But, oh, I forgot, this is _Texas_… Anyway, a senseless tragedy that in no way need have happened if someone had done their job correctly - be it the driver, the planners or the cops. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-parade-float-hit-by-train-in-midland-texas/641157/12 "2012-11-17T00:58:56Z")
Seeing how it was a parade, bet there is video out there.