VERSAILLES — Versailles police determined a semi-tractor trailer hauling wood was at fault when it was was hit by a CSX train, closing intersections for days.
The crash happened around 8 a.m. last Wednesday in the area of Seffin and Water streets.
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The damage from the crash had lasting impacts on traffic in the area — state Route 185 and State Route 47 remained closed at the railroad crossings in Versailles until crews were able to repair the traffic signals at the crossings damaged in the crash.
No citations have been issued yet at this point, police said.
According to a crash report, Versailles police estimated the CSX train was going 59 mph at the time the crash happened. Versailles Police Chief Josh Bolin said train speeds through the village are set by CSX.
“The investigation is ongoing. Maximum track speeds for freight trains are 60 miles per hour,” a spokeswoman for CSX told News Center 7 Wednesday. WHIO has requested a copy of any on-board video from the train, but the video has not been provided by CSX.
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During the investigation, Versailles police found that lumber and debris from the crash damaged two of Worch Lumber’s buildings and two other vehicles, according to the crash report.
Dealing with trains is normal for employees at Worch Lumber, Jack Bohman said they usually see about a couple of them an hour.
Jack and two other Worch Lumber employees saw something they had never seen before.
“It happened so fast,” witness John Broering told News Center 7′s Molly Koweek.
The three men were panicked after they saw a semi hauling lumber get stuck on the tracks as a CSX train approached.
Police said the semi-driver managed to unhook the cab, but he could not free the trailer.
Devan Homan said by the time he got over to the tracks in an attempt to help, it was too late.
The gates were coming down and all Homan could do was watch.
“All I can say is scary, really. I plugged my ears hoping not to hear it and felt it in my chest when the impact hit,” Broering said.
Broering said the next thing he knew the train was halfway down the tracks with a trailer underneath it. He said the driver of the semi is lucky he got out when he did.
The assistant village administrator said the train didn’t stop for three-quarters of a mile.
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