CSX vs Log truck - GA

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VALDOSTA — A log truck collided with a CSX Railroad Company train at the intersection of Savannah Avenue and St. Augustine Road Monday at 4:30 p.m., according to Capt. Brian Childress, public information officer for the Valdosta Police Department.
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Log truck, train collide
Kelli Hernandez
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— VALDOSTA — A log truck collided with a CSX Railroad Company train at the intersection of Savannah Avenue and St. Augustine Road Monday at 4:30 p.m., according to Capt. Brian Childress, public information officer for the Valdosta Police Department.
Authorities confirmed that the barricades were not lowered as the Triple Wolf Logging Company truck attempted to cross the tracks, giving no warning to the driver or his passenger.
The train made contact with the truck on the driver’s side and forced the truck along the side of the tracks parallel to the train.
The train did not derail, according to Childress.
The driver of the log truck, J.C. Wolf, and the passenger were taken to South Georgia Medical Center with injuries and were last listed in stable condition.
The conductor of the train, Mark Bickerson, was not injured.
The name of the passenger of the log truck was unavailable at press time.
Authorities were working with representatives from CSX, the traffic unit and an officer specially trained to handle similar incidents to investigate the accident.
According to Childress, no charges have been filed, but may be forthcoming.

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New information released on train, log truck collision
Kelli Hernandez

— VALDOSTA — Valdosta Police Department’s traffic investigation unit is continuing a joint investigation with CSX Railroad Company following a collision between a log truck and a train after barriers were not dropped at a crossing Monday.

According to Capt. Brian Childress, VPD public information officer, CSX Railroad Co. says there is a 98 percent probability that a circuit on the track, which activates the barriers and lights at a railroad crossing, failed, resulting in the lights and barricades not being activated as the train approached.

Childress added that the department is 100 percent sure there are no plans to charge the driver of the log truck, J.C. Wolf, with a motor vehicle violation in relation to the incident.

Although there is a high probability that the cause of the collision was a faulty switch, CSX stated that this is not a widespread problem and the faulty switch resulted in only one isolated incident. However, authorities are urging the motoring public to slow down and look before crossing railroad tracks, even if barriers are not lowered.

Childress also commented that CSX will not face any criminal charges stemming from the incident.

“This was simply a railroad equipment malfunction, and there is no evidence of criminal intent from CSX,” Childress said.

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