Posted on 10/24/2007 3:30:00 PM PDT by trumandogz
A Katy man was on his cell phone with his wife when he crashed into a freight train on Tuesday, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Investigators said they are unsure whether Santiago Cadena, 33, was trying to beat the train or didn't see it coming before the crash happened around 2:30 p.m.
Cadena's wife told authorities that she overheard the wrenching, screeching crash, said DPS Sgt. Chuck Havard.
A west-bound Union Pacific freight train slammed into the cab of Cadena's empty flat bed truck, splintering it into pieces.
The truck had been heading south on FM 2830 and crossed the tracks about a block from where the farm road intersects U.S. 90 in Raywood.
Sgt. Havard said the train had sounded its horn and the crossing lights were flashing, but this intersection has no crossing arms.
Investigators are still checking the train's speed but believe it was traveling about 30 mph.
Cadena was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Because of its weight and power, Havard said, the train was not damaged. None of its cargo spilled and no one else was injured, he said.
Cell phones and driving. Not the best mix.
Vehicle and Trains even a worse combination.
Always bet on the train —— You’ll never lose!
No damage to train - a good outcome.
Because of its weight and power, Havard said, the train was not damaged.
My sympathy to the engineer and conductor who had to watch it happen. Even when the train brakes are put into emergency position it takes time to stop.
Se habla ingles?
“Can you hear me now?”
Somebody posted a little ditty years ago. It went something like:
The bells are a ringin’
The lights are a flashin’
The whistle is screaming in vain
If you stay on the tracks
Ignoring the facts
You can’t blame the wreck on the train
I hope he didn’t have Verizon. All his cellular team members that follow him around would have had to watch this incident.
Actually, I’m sorry to hear of anyone losing their life. It’s a real shame.
I advise everyone to get hands free technology and use it in the car. Even using the speaker phone function is better than holding the thing in your hand.
I live near a crossing on the main Atlanta-Chattanooga line. Actually, three crossings. We had a similar incident a number of years ago.
Guy drove around the gates trying to beat the train up at the Paces Ferry crossing. He lost, and the locomotive carried him about a mile southbound before the car peeled off the front of the train and rolled down the embankment into his own back yard. His wife found his body in the wreckage of the car.
My neighbor said, "She was never quite the same afterwards."
I guess not.
Charles Darwin, please pick up the white courtesy phone.
I hope for the wife’s sake the call was IMPORTANT.
If it was something that could have waited ‘til he got home, she’s gonna have some issues.
I remember when a car full of high school kids tried that in my home town of La Mirada, CA.
Same result.
My son is an engineer and just the thought of this is a nightmare for him.
Someone may have ordered a code red on him.
Don’t bring a truck to a train wreck.
“I hope he didnt have Verizon. All his cellular team members that follow him around would have had to watch this incident.”
Literally laughed out loud on that one. Thanks for a well needed giggle.
Did anyone read this headline?
What a sad tragedy.
I fail to see any humor at all.
May God comfort her.
Hope you didn’t get any coffee on the keyboard. ;-)
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