Train hits tractor trailer in Roanoke County

Updated 4:38 p.m.
by Ashley Roberts/aroberts@wsls.com
WSLS Reporter

A quick decision behind the wheel was the difference between life and death for Gurwinde Singh.

“God, you saved my life, thank you,“ said Singh.

Singh tells WSLS he had just left the Kroger warehouse and was waiting at the railroad crossing.

He says a work crew was working around the track and the gate was down.

That’s when Singh says one of the workers, who didn’t see the train coming, lifted the gate for him to drive across.

“One guys coming over there. He opened the gate and then he tell me, you cross the track. He tell me and then I crossed the gate.“

Singh says when he was halfway over the track…“I see train. It’s very close. It’s very fast.“

Singh says he pounded the gas to get as far off the track as possible.

The train missed him, but split his truck in half, which left him visibly shaken.

“I’m very nervous.“
It was also a rough and long day for dozens of other truckers who spent a good part of their day waiting to make deliveries.

The crash shut down traffic for at least four hours.

Trucker David Dennis says he loses $110 ten dollars every hour he sits. “We’re pressured for time because we’ve got tons to deliver. This screwed up my whole day and run for the rest of the week.“

While truckers waited, Singh was just thankful he’s alive to finish the rest of the week.

The crash and Singh’s claim about what caused it are under investigation.

Here’s the complete news release from the Roanoke County Police Department:

On June 29, 2009 at approximately 0815 hrs. the Roanoke County Police Department responded to the 3600 block of Garman road at the railway crossing in reference to a vehicle crash involving a tractor trailer and freight train.  The subsequent investigation revealed that a 2001 Freightliner tractor/trailer was stopped on the south side of the West/East bound tracks headed north bound.  The vehicle was stopped due to the crossing gate being down and a work crew working around the track.  At some point the gate was raised and the tractor started across the tracks when it was struck by a west bound Norfolk Southern freight train.  The force of the impact cut the empty trailer into two pieces.  There were no injuries as a result of the crash and charges are pending. 
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Updated:  1:15 p.m.

No one was hurt in the accident.

We’re told arms were down over the crossing because crews were working on the tracks.

A worker did not see the train coming, and lifted the arms to let the truck through.

That’s when the train and tractor trailer collided.

Roanoke County Police are investigating.

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A train hit a tractor trailer Monday morning in Roanoke County, near the Kroger warehouse on Garman Road.

According to a WSLS crew on the scene, part of the tractor trailer was cut in half.

Watch WSLS 10 On Your Side at 5:30 for updates.