PB96-916201 NTSB/HAR-96/01 NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD WASHINGTON, D.C. 20594 HIGHWAY ACCIDENT REPORT HIGHWAY/RAIL GRADE CROSSING COLLISION NEAR SYCAMORE, SOUTH CAROLINA MAY 2, 1995 6596A Abstract: On May 2, 1995, a truck consisting of a tractor and a lowbed semitrailer became lodged on a high-profile (hump) railroad grade crossing near Sycamore, South Carolina. About 35 minutes later, the truck was struck by southbound Amtrak train No. 81 en route from New York City to Tampa, Florida. No deaths resulted from the accident, but 33 persons sustained minor injuries. Combined property damage to the truck and train exceeded $1 million. The following issues in grade crossing safety are discussed in this report: identification and warnings of hump crossings, emergency notifications at grade crossings, and adequacy of training for commercial drivers. As a result of its investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board issued recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation; the Federal Highway Administration; the American Public Transit Association;the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators; the American Trucking Associations, Inc.;the American Short Line Railroad Association; Operation Lifesaver, Inc.;all Class I railroads and railroad systems; and O&J Gordon Trucking Company. The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent Federal agency dedicated to promoting aviation,railroad, highway, marine, pipeline, and hazardous materials safety. Established in 1967, the agency is mandated by Congress through the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to investigate transportation accidents, determine the probable causes of the accidents, issue safety recommendations,study transportation safety issues, and evaluate the safety effectiveness of government agencies involved in transportation. The Safety Board makes public its actions and decisions through accident reports, safety studies, special investigation reports, safety recommendations, and statistical reviews. Information about available publications may be obtained by contacting: National Transportation Safety Board Public Inquiries Section, RE-51 490 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20594 (202) 382-6735 Safety Board publications may be purchased, by individual copy or by subscription, from: National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, Virginia 22161 (703) 487-4600 HIGHWAY/RAIL GRADE CROSSING COLLISION NEAR SYCAMORE, SOUTH CAROLINA MAY 2, 1995 HIGHWAY ACCIDENT REPORT Adopted: March 11, 1996 Notation 6596A NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD Washington, D.C. 20594 This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY........................................................................................................... v INVESTIGATION The Accident ................................................................................................................................... 1 Pre-Accident.............................................................................................................................. 1 Collision .................................................................................................................................... 5 Emergency Response................................................................................................................. 5 Injuries............................................................................................................................................. 8 Damage............................................................................................................................................ 8 Truck ......................................................................................................................................... 8 Train .......................................................................................................................................... 8 Truck Information ........................................................................................................................... 9 Train Information ............................................................................................................................ 9 Personnel Information ................................................................................................................... 12 Truckdriver.............................................................................................................................. 12 Traincrew ................................................................................................................................ 13 Engineer ............................................................................................................................ 13 Assistant Engineer ............................................................................................................ 13 Conductor and Assistant Conductors ............................................................................... 13 Toxicological Testing.................................................................................................................... 14 Accident Site Information ............................................................................................................. 14 Roadway and Grade Crossing ................................................................................................. 14 Track, Wayside, and Crossing Signals.................................................................................... 15 Carrier Information........................................................................................................................ 16 O&J Gordon Trucking ............................................................................................................ 16 CSXT Operations .................................................................................................................... 18 Amtrak Operations .................................................................................................................. 18 Meteorological Information .......................................................................................................... 19 Survival Aspects............................................................................................................................ 19 Tests and Research ........................................................................................................................ 20 Locomotive Event Recorders .................................................................................................. 20 Train Stopping Distance.......................................................................................................... 20 Track........................................................................................................................................ 21 Additional Train Tests............................................................................................................. 21 Sight Distance ......................................................................................................................... 21 Truck Lamp Examination........................................................................................................ 21 Emergency Notification Time ................................................................................................. 22 Other Information.......................................................................................................................... 22 Hump Crossings ...................................................................................................................... 22 Standards and Guidelines........................................................................................................25 Warning Signs......................................................................................................................... 25 U.S. DOT/AAR Inventory....................................................................................................... 26 Relationships Between Public Entities and Railroads............................................................. 28 Emergency Notification........................................................................................................... 29 iii Texas ................................................................................................................................. 29 Delaware............................................................................................................................ 30 Connecticut........................................................................................................................ 30 Canada............................................................................................................................... 30 Norfolk Southern Corporation .......................................................................................... 30 Santa Fe Railway Company .............................................................................................. 30 CSXT................................................................................................................................. 31 Other U.S. Railroads ......................................................................................................... 31 Foreign Railroads .............................................................................................................