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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

A train barreled through a semi-truck stuck on the tracks in the early morning hours of March 18 in Thorsby at the railroad crossing at County Road 71 near Highway 31. Thorsby Police Chief Rodney Barnett and CSX Transportation confirmed that there were no injuries or fatalities following the crash.

Barnett said the truck crossed the railroad crossing at County Road 71 to go to the dump, and when the truck returned to the crossing it had a trailer attached to it. When the semi crossed the tracks, its trailer bottomed out and became stuck on the tracks. The driver called 911, but a long train was already on its way down the tracks towards the now blocked crossing and could not stop in time.

The train smashed into the trailer and severely damaged the semi-truck, and the collision completely took out the railroad crossing lights and arms.

Traffic on Highway 31 was delayed throughout the morning of March 18 as the truck and debris was removed from the area.