Ambulance struck by train

[DT4EMS]

FALKVILLE — A paramedic and an emergency medical technician en route to a non-emergency call died Thursday when their ambulance collided with a southbound train just south of Falkville, authorities said.


DAILY Photo by Chris Paschenko
A tow truck removed an ambulance about noon Thursday after state troopers documented its collision with a train.
Driver Tommy Allen Allred, 26, an EMT from Vinemont, and paramedic Chastity Miller, 29, of Decatur, died within minutes of each other, following the 10:30 a.m. crash at a railroad crossing on Piney Grove Road.

The ambulance's front driver side bore the brunt of a Union Pacific locomotive, which propelled the van about 30 yards from the crossing. The ambulance, owned by American Ambulance Service with bases in Cullman and Falkville, rested in a ditch on its driver side just feet from U.S. 31.

Concealed neither by a curve or wooded obstruction, the train entered the intersection, which is marked with railroad and stop signs but lacks crossing arms.

The full stroy here:

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[Chimpie]

That sucks.

 

[MMiz]

It's so tragic. Its hard for me, living in a relatively urban area, to imagine a train crossing without dropping arms / barriers, but I'm sure it's common in rural areas.

 

[Cap'nPanic]

Ok this is the second story Ive read where ambulance v. train w/ ambulance losing. The last one occured here in Arkansas. I think with the recent rash of incidents as RR crossings w/o arms, there will be legislation to push for ALL RR crossings to have arms.

It is sad, but also, we need to be on the look out even if we are on a non-emergent call and w/o patient.

-Cap'nPanic

*Lighting a candle for the fallen*

 

[Phridae]

I agree with Chimpe, that just sucks.