re: Truck and boat hit by Amtrak train in Ponchatoula

Truck is in decent shape considering a train just hit it. For this guy’s stupidity, I hope insurance either denies the claim or just repairs it.

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Yes, they have crossing arms on all RR crossings. I can remember a family getting killed in Ponchatoula around 20 years ago because there was no crossing guard. Since then, they’ve shut those crossings down. Instead of 5 crossings in Ponchatoula, there’s now 3.

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My Dad was employed by I.C.&G and was on the engine of the train that hit that family. It really was one of the only times I've seen my old man cry other than the death of his parents. It was rough on him for quite a while and even nowadays, years after retiring, anytime a similar incident occurs it brings back memories of that event for him.

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white Chevy Denali truck was towing a boat

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Holy shite that is the Baw special.

That truck held up surprisingly well for getting hit by a train. #gmskrong

I believe the gate came down between the truck and the boat.

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I can remember a family getting killed in Ponchatoula around 20 years ago because there was no crossing guard. Since then, they’ve shut those crossings down. Instead of 5 crossings in Ponchatoula, there’s now 3.

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A grandmother and 4 kids if I remember correctly. There was no crossing gate at that street but I don't think that was the reason for it. But I am sure the railroad paid out the arse for that accident. Most likely it was a not paying attention situation. Where that happened was on the southside and there is zero reason why someone could not see a train coming.

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The easy excuse would have been that the grade of the crossing was such that the tongue of the trailer bottomed out on rails and trapped the boat on one side and the truck on the other.

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Not a issue with this crossing. There was a issue about 20 years ago where a lowboy 18 wheeler bottomed out ( no accident ). But it was almost immediately graded down by the railroad and state.

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It's likely he stopped on the tracks in traffic at a light or something.

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I think this is exactly what happened. If you are approaching this crossing going west on Hwy 22 you cross the tracks and immediately you come to a traffic light on RR avenue. There is enough room for one vehicle between the crossing gate and the stop for the light on 22. What I think happened IMO. This Baw was hauling arse trying to beat the crossing gate. No way he didn't see the flashing lights. They flash a good 10-15 seconds if not more before the arms come down. I think a car he was following closely and stopped for the light change or the car was trying to turn and he got stuck there and couldn't go anywhere. No the dude on top of medical bills will have tickets from PPD, the state and the railroad as well. Yes the railroad has their own police and can write tickets for railroad crossing violations.

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Chevy Denali

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Wat

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It's illegal to break those arms. He didn't want to get a ticket because it increases your insurance premiums.

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Pretty sure the law will look the other way if you break them to get out of the way of a fricking train

“frick me. I thought I could afford this truck and boat from Boat City USA when I signed the notes. I thought that turnaround money would be coming in forever. What do I do now?”