BNSF News

Employees Commended for Preventing Possible Vehicle-Train Collision

2009-12-28

A gang/section foreman and train crew have been commended for preventing a possible vehicle-train collision in Jacksonville, Ill.

An approaching train had authority to proceed through the area when Jake Piper, gang/section foreman, noticed an abandoned car stuck between the rails with a flat tire. The driver was no longer in the vehicle, but Piper realized that a collision was imminent and immediately radioed for help.

Tristopher Milby, locomotive engineer, and Tara Burnside, conductor, were operating a train carrying empties about a mile and a half away when they heard Piper's voice calling "Emergency" on the radio. The dispatcher asked for information, and the train crew heard Piper's response.

"And we did our jobs," Milby said. With the early warning, the crew was able to stop the train about 2,000 feet from the stalled vehicle, preventing a collision that could have been serious in a number of ways.

A Beardstown Subdivision dispatcher praised Milby and Burnside for staying calm and reacting quickly. But Milby is quick to point out that Piper is the real hero for being alert and letting them know the vehicle was there.

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