Truck smacks train closing highway 36

The sound of train whistles was noticeably absent in Superior last Thursday.

The line, which carries mostly empty northbound traffic between Newton and Hastings, was unexpectedly closed about 8:30 that morning by a traffic accident.

A Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train was passing through Courtland enroute to Superior and a crew change. As it crossed Highway 36, several cars derailed as the train was struck by a loaded semitrailer truck.

The vision of the driver of the slow moving truck was apparently limited by the heavy fog which blanketed the area at the time of the accident.

The west bound truck loaded with corn struck approximately the 30th empty hopper car from the train’s head end.

The truck left the highway and overturned alongside the railroad track. The driver was able to get out of the truck with apparently only minor injuries.

The highway was closed for more than 5 hours.

It wasn’t until about 6 p.m. that the sound of train traffic returned to Superior.

The grade crossing is protected with lights and crossing arms.