Veterans dead as train rams into parade
Source: Agencies |
November 17, 2012, Saturday
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WOUNDED US military veterans leapt for their lives just before a freight train struck their parade in rural Texas, killing four veterans and injuring 16, and federal officials rushed to the scene yesterday to piece together why it happened.
About two dozen veterans and their spouses had been sitting on the parade float, set up on the back of a flatbed truck decorated with American flags. Many seemed to panic as the train's horn blared, said Patricia Howle, who was waiting in her car at a nearby traffic light.
"I was on the phone, and I just started screaming," Howle said after Thursday afternoon's crash.
"The truck was on the other side of the train, but I see the panic on the faces of the people and saw some of them jump off."
Police said the first truck with veterans safely crossed the tracks, but the second truck's trailer was still on the crossing as the Union Pacific locomotive approached.
The US marked Veterans Day earlier this week. Police confirmed yesterday that all four of the dead were veterans.
Midland city spokesman Ryan Stout said Sergeant Major Gary Stouffer, 37, and Sergeant Major Lawrence Boivin, 47, were pronounced dead at the scene and 34-year-old Army Sergeant Joshua Michael and 43- year-old Army Sergeant Major William Lubbers were pronounced dead at a hospital.
A preliminary investigation indicated the crossing gate and lights were working, said Union Pacific spokesman Tom Lange, though he didn't know if the train crew saw the float approaching. "There is going to be a very thorough investigation," Lange said. "It's obviously a very tragic incident." He said the train crew did not sustain any injuries but would be offered counseling."
"It was a horrible accident to watch happen right in front of me," said Daniel Quinonez, who was in traffic that had been stopped to allow the parade to pass.
"I just saw the people on the semi-truck's trailer panic, and many started to jump off the trailer. But it was too late for many of them because the train impacted the trailer so fast," he said.
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta "was deeply saddened by news of the tragic accident involving veterans heroes and their spouses in Midland," Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement.
About two dozen veterans and their spouses had been sitting on the parade float, set up on the back of a flatbed truck decorated with American flags. Many seemed to panic as the train's horn blared, said Patricia Howle, who was waiting in her car at a nearby traffic light.
"I was on the phone, and I just started screaming," Howle said after Thursday afternoon's crash.
"The truck was on the other side of the train, but I see the panic on the faces of the people and saw some of them jump off."
Police said the first truck with veterans safely crossed the tracks, but the second truck's trailer was still on the crossing as the Union Pacific locomotive approached.
The US marked Veterans Day earlier this week. Police confirmed yesterday that all four of the dead were veterans.
Midland city spokesman Ryan Stout said Sergeant Major Gary Stouffer, 37, and Sergeant Major Lawrence Boivin, 47, were pronounced dead at the scene and 34-year-old Army Sergeant Joshua Michael and 43- year-old Army Sergeant Major William Lubbers were pronounced dead at a hospital.
A preliminary investigation indicated the crossing gate and lights were working, said Union Pacific spokesman Tom Lange, though he didn't know if the train crew saw the float approaching. "There is going to be a very thorough investigation," Lange said. "It's obviously a very tragic incident." He said the train crew did not sustain any injuries but would be offered counseling."
"It was a horrible accident to watch happen right in front of me," said Daniel Quinonez, who was in traffic that had been stopped to allow the parade to pass.
"I just saw the people on the semi-truck's trailer panic, and many started to jump off the trailer. But it was too late for many of them because the train impacted the trailer so fast," he said.
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta "was deeply saddened by news of the tragic accident involving veterans heroes and their spouses in Midland," Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement.
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