Train strikes tow truck parked on tracks in Milwaukie (OR)

[TowNews]

MILWAUKIE, Ore. — 

A Union Pacific train crashed into a tow truck Monday night that was parked on the railroad tracks, according to the Milwaukie Police Department.

The crashed happened just before 6:30 p.m. at Southeast Harmony Road and Railroad Avenue.

Police said the tow truck driver had parked his truck on the tracks to hook up a disabled vehicle.

The tow truck has been removed from the intersection.

The crash destroyed the railroad arms and police have closed north- and southbound lanes south of Railroad Avenue until Union Pacific has repaired the arms and inspected the tracks.

Police said the tow truck driver, 37-year-old Shayne Davis, was taken to the Clackamas County jail on an outstanding warrant.

No one was injured.

 

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[rreschran]

Hi All ... because towing and recovery oftentimes takes us into these dangerous railroad environments, there's little to no training that towers can take to educate themselves about the dangers of working railroad environments. Obviously, "Stay off the trucks", should be enough warning, but that message sometimes doesn't reach all ears. There's a FREE, on-line/interactive training module from the national, Operation Lifesaver, for first responders who are called to work rail incidents. This free training isn't specific to tow truck operators, but may confirm what you DON'T know about railroad right-of-ways. Owners: I invite you and your drivers to participate in this training module and make it a requirement for your next safety meeting. Remember, trains serve many rural communities, but trolley and light-rail serves the big cities. I send this message in memory of Shaun Riddle who was killed by an Amtrack train working a simple load-and-go scenario in Solana Beach, California,as well as the other 9-tow operators killed in rail incidents of the past 20-years. The link appears below:

 

https://oli.org/firstresponder

[TowNews]

Milwaukie police arrest tow-truck driver hit by train

 

 

A tow-truck driver was arrested on an outstanding warrant Jan. 28 after he parked on the tracks in Milwaukie and was hit by a Union Pacific train.

 

Milwaukie police said Empire Towing Co. driver Shayne Michael Davis, 37, parked across the tracks at Southeast Harmony Road and Railroad Avenue while trying to hook up to a disabled vehicle.

No one was hurt when the Union Pacific train hit Davis' tow truck at about 6:24 p.m. The railroad-crossing arms were destroyed, police said.

Davis was arrested as a fugitive of justice from criminal charges in another state. He has been convicted in Multnomah County on charges of fourth-degree assault, coercion and recklessly endangering another person.

The intersection of Railroad and Harmony was closed due to the crash. Drivers were warned about "significant delays at this intersection" until Union Pacific has inspected the tracks and repaired the railroad-crossing arms.

 

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