It goes to show you how unpredictable traffic situations can quickly spell trouble for trucking, or worse. Eaton, OH Police Capt. Brad Moore was struck and injured by a tractor trailer that a train slammed into and sent careening toward him.
Moore, one of the supervisors of the Preble County Sheriff's Office Patrol Division, fortunately sustained no life-threatening injuries, according to WHIO-TV in Dayton. In response to the news station's request, the sheriff's office released dash cam video earlier this week from the police cruiser showing the accident, which happened late Friday afternoon, Jan. 8.
Apparently attending the scene of an initial, minor accident on US-35 in Eaton, Capt. Moore is shown in the video motioning to approaching traffic. The tractor trailer pulls inside a railroad crossing next to the accident. The gates start flashing and close down as a train approaches, and Moore glances over his shoulder to check where it is as he and the truck get away from the tracks.
But the truck doesn't get far enough. The oncoming train slams into the rear of the truck's long trailer, which is sent like a missile into the cab. The truck speeds forward and hits Moore, who is rolled alongside the tractor's drive and rear wheels before being bounced off to the side. Another officer comes to check on Moore and calls for help.
Capt. Moore, who reportedly needed 25 stitches for a head injury, said the incident was "scary" and noted he was lucky to be knocked to the side rather than run over by the truck, according to WHIO-TV. The truck driver, who was identified as Richard Palmer, 73, reportedly was not injured, although the trailer can be seen violently hitting into the truck in the video.
The crash remains under investigation, and undoubtedly will raise scrutiny of procedures and safety at railroad crossings.
