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Man killed in truck, train collision

Staff Report

A 54-year-old Wyoming man was killed early Thursday morning after his truck ran off the road and was struck by a westbound train two miles west of New Castle.The man, whose identity had not yet been released on Thursday, was traveling westbound on Highway 6&24 at 3:25 a.m. when his dark gray 2003 Chevrolet pickup truck went off the left side of the road and down a steep embankment and became stuck in the train tracks, facing south, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The truck was struck by the westbound train and then pushed several feet on the tracks and came to final rest on the south side of the tracks.There were no indications on the roadway that the vehicle had encountered any problems before leaving the highway. The crash did not occur at a railroad crossing.The locomotive consisted of three engines and 104 empty coal cars. The train sustained minor damage and no crew members reported any injuries.The driver of the truck was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Garfield County Coroner. In mid-May, another accident involving a vehicle and a train occurred when a firetruck driven by a volunteer with the Burning Mountains Fire Protection District collided with a train at a crossing just east of Coal Ridge High School between New Castle and Silt. The fire department volunteer was giving a ride to a couple and their young child when the accident occurred. No injuries were sustained in the accident.Thursday’s accident remains under investigation to determine if alcohol was a contributing factor. The locomotive and the engineer were found to be in compliance in regards to speed, lights and warning devices and the use of the locomotive air horn just prior to impact.


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