Train and log truck collide in Thorsby

Published 12:30 pm Thursday, August 5, 2010

A log truck and CSX train collided Thursday morning in Thorsby, shutting down U.S. 31 for several hours.

Thorsby Fire Department responded to the call shortly before 10 a.m.

According to Lance Hilyer with Thorsby Fire, the truck driver stalled on the tracks at the intersection of U.S. 31 and Chilton County 623.

When the driver saw the train approaching, he jumped out of the truck, before impact, according to Hilyer.

The driver escaped without injury; no one on the train was hurt.

U.S. 31 was shut down shortly after 10 a.m. as crews worked to clear the accident scene.

As of noon, the highway was still closed.

Thorsby Fire, along with the Thorsby Police Department, the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama State Troopers and RPS ambulance responded to the call. Crews from CSX were also on the scene. Equipment from Georgia Pacific was used to clear logs from the train tracks.

The truck driver was a private contractor, Hilyer said.

The accident follows a similar one five weeks ago, when a CSX train collided with flatbed truck at the same intersection on June 29. The driver of that truck also escaped without injury.