BNSF train backs into grain truck Lots of damage but no injuries

There was unexpected excitement in Superior Friday morning when the Superior Fire and Rescue Departments were called to a truck-train accident near the eastern outskirts of Superior. An area truck driver, who was hauling corn to the elevator, had the truck's trailer struck while crossing the Burlington-Northern-Santa Fe Industrial siding and the result was a much shorter grain trailer than when he started his trip.

The BNSF was pushing an empty hopper train onto the former Wymore line east of Superior. The former Wymore main line track now serves as a siding along the south side of Highway 8 from Hartley Street to the Cadams Corner. The train consisted of three locomotives pushing more than 100 cars. A semitrailer truck, owned by a Superior area farmer and driven by a local resident, was severed in a crossing accident at the west entrance to the Aurora Cooperative's Superior East facility.

The BNSF crossing is not protected by gates or flashing lights. There was apparently no BNSf flagman protecting the crossing at the time of the collision.

An empty grain hopper car collided with the trailer. The trailer was severed approximately six feet from the front end. The semitractor and the shortened trailer continued on a short way before stopping. The remaining portion of the trailer was hung up on the side of the grain hopper. The load of corn was spilled across the tracks. The hopper was derailed. The train uncoupled from the derailed car and returned to the Superior Junction. It departed from Superior in the afternoon.

No injuries were reported to either the driver or members of the train crew. An accident investigation report from the Nebraska State Patrol was unavailable at publication time.