Train strikes 18-wheeler on SE Loop

I see a big ticket in this drivers' future. Plus, he'll probably be looking for a new job.

I don't know what was happening on I84WB early this morning, but I saw one truck with the rear of his trailer all smashed and ripped apart, then about 1/2 mile down the road, another trailer in the same shape, plus what looked like smoke pouring from the tractor. It was dark and I didn't slow down and be a looky-lou because I was headin' East, to home.
Anyway, I think it was near The Dalles or Hood River, OR.

 

It doesn't look like the train was going very fast, and this is a good illustration on a train's lack of ability to stop. Never try to beat a train to the grade crossing: The train will always win.

Of interesting note: The article was wrong about the name of the railroad. The Union Pacific bought out Southern Pacific, and that transaction included the St Louis Southwestern, known as the Cotton Belt. Cotton Belt GP60 #9684 is one of the rare unpatched (no red engine number with yellow background on side of cab) Union Pacific locomotives.

NorfolkSouthern