Train crashes into City of LaPorte snowplow stuck on tracks

A City of La Porte snowplow truck was demolished after it was struck by a freight train Tuesday morning. The driver of the dump truck jumped off before the collision and was not injured. Police were called to the Norfolk Southern crossing at 2nd St. and Weller Ave. on the city's west side at about 10 a.m.

LaPorte Street Department Director Jeff Batchelor said the driver was scraping the roads of snow and ice still remaining on the surface from the weekend storm. He was also laying down salt on the streets where needed. Batchelor said he was using the plow beneath the frame of the truck when the blade caught one of the rails while over the rough crossing.

The blade dug into the ground becoming stuck between the rail and asphalt, he said. Batchelor said the driver tried backing up to pull the plow out but the rear tires on the dump truck but was unable to gain enough traction on the snow packed, icy pavement. He also tried rocking the truck by quickly shifting from reverse to drive multiple times, but the tires kept spinning.

The driver then notified his supervisor about the situation. Batchelor said attempts were being made by the 911 dispatcher center to notify the railroad to stop oncoming traffic until the truck was removed from the crossing when the driver spotted the eastbound train approaching. The driver climbed out of the cab on the truck and ran before the train collided with the truck less than a minute later.

"We couldn't get it done quick enough to stop it from hitting the snowplow," he said. The plow on the front of the machine along with the bed carrying the salt were among the parts separated from the truck by the impact. "It was a hard hit.

There's no doubt about it," said La Porte Police Chief Paul Brettin.

Batchelor said the driver had gone through about half of the salt in the dump portion of the truck before the collision.

As a result, there was not enough weight on the back tires to help the treads gain enough traction on the slick pavement to pull the plow out.