By: Harlan J. Zaback, Law Clerk/Clinical Intern
CITY OF INDUSTRY, CALIFORNIA – A Union Pacific freight train collided with a big rig’s trailer in an industrial area of eastern Los Angeles County. Fortunately no one involved in the accident was injured. Officials investigating the accident believe that the driver underestimated the length of his rig because the truck and trailer had already cleared the crossing arms from the approaching side of the tracks when the trailer was struck in the crossing. When inspecting the accident scene, it appeared that the accident may have been avoidable if the crossing had a proper warning and safety system, which it did not. Officials believe that the driver might have been alerted that his trailer was still on the tracks if the intersection had crossing arms on both sides of the track for both directions of traffic.