A freight train collided with a semi truck stuck on the tracks Wednesday evening in Pecos, Texas. The incident, which occurred around 5 p.m. near Oak Street and Dot Stafford Street, derailed several train cars, and then collided with the Pecos Chamber of Commerce building, causing partial structural damage.
One person died in the accident and four others including the driver of the semi truck were injured. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims, but emergency services responded to the scene immediately and transported the injured to nearby hospitals.
Witnesses described the impact as catastrophic, with the freight train pushing the truck several yards before it fell off the tracks and plowed into the Chamber of Commerce building. The building’s structural integrity was compromised, although no deaths were reported inside the building.
Local authorities, including the Pecos Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety, have launched an investigation into the cause of the collision. Initial reports suggest that the semi-truck was unable to move due to an unknown mechanical problem, which caused it to get stuck on the tracks as the train approached.
The derailment disrupted train services in the region, with officials working through the night to clear the debris and restore normal operations. Authorities have expressed their condolences to the victim’s family and are asking the public to avoid the area while the investigation continues.
So far, the condition of the injured is stable and it is said that more details will be released after the investigation into the cause of the incident is completed.