WORTHINGTON, Ohio -- An oncoming train crashed into a tractor-trailer Wednesday afternoon and caused traffic tie-ups for hours.
What happened, and why is the traffic around the crossing a continuing issue?
NBC 4’s Mike Bowersock GOT ANSWERS on a continuing traffic problem.
A tractor-trailer driver was in heavy traffic on state Route 161 at Linworth Road on the city’s North Side.
Roger Smith dropped off a load of mulch and was heading eastbound on Dublin-Granville Road.
He was stuck on CSX railroad tracks, waiting for the vehicles in front of him to move forward.
Then there was an oncoming train.
“I saw the semi was trying to get across, and then I just heard this huge crash,” witness Joey Jackques said.
Witness Steve Bird said it, “sounded like a dumpster being dumped, but it was a lot louder.”
“The trailer got drug this way and half of it stopped there,” another witness said.
Train cars were derailed. Metal was mangled. The train’s “cow” catcher in the front caught shards of sheet metal.
The trailer was torn from the tractor and was dragged a quarter of a mile on the track.
No one was injured.
The reason Smith of South Vienna was stuck on the tracks? Gridlock.
And gridlock is not uncommon for state Route 161.
Sgt. Steve Cicero said Smith couldn’t get his tractor-trailer out of the train’s path because of the traffic in front of him.
There has been talk about putting an underpass or overpass on S.R. 161 to so drivers could avoid the tracks.
The overpass or underpass would go south of Dublin-Granville Road and meet back up with the road.
The project is not part of any current state plans, and in tight economic times, buying all of the businesses in the area to construct such a plan may not be feasible.
Police said the crash remained under investigation but it didn't appear anyone would be charged since the gates came down after Smith was on the tracks.
The crossing reopened overnight Thursday.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
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