This dramatic crash resulted in no injuries.
It’s not easy to drive a semi-truck. It is more difficult to tow heavy loads. Then there are wind turbine blades, which require as much space as a football field in order to turn a simple turn. It can be very difficult to get stuck with this load. It can become a nightmare if the railroad tracks are nearby.
This is exactly what happened to the driver in Luling, Texas on August 29th. It was towing what appears to be a single blade for large wind turbines when the semi ran into problems trying to make a right turn on a railroad track. The incident was captured on video and has been shared worldwide. The clip contains strong language, but it’s not hard to imagine a scene where a freight train speeds past a propellor blade in front of you.
According to FOX 7 Austin News, the truck was turning left from US 90 onto US 183 downtown Luling around 2:30 p.m. The truck appeared to be having trouble clearing the railroad signal for an approaching train. The driver slammed the throttle to clear the track at the last moment, apparently thinking that minor damage to the signal or turbine blade would be more important than a train collision. The decision was made too late. The train crashed into the blade on the backside, snapping it, and eventually rolling the truck onto its side. According to the news report, the train also sustained damage.
It is not clear why this particular load was so large. Difficult shipments are usually routed in advance and cleared of any obstacles. Schedules are coordinated in order to ensure that railroad tracks are clear for the truck arriving. Although there were some mishaps, everyone made it through the trip without any injuries.