Crime & Safety
Train, Car Carrier Collide in West Nyack Neighborhood
The train is carrying flammable liquids, believed to be crude oil.
UPDATE 4:45 p.m.:
Police report the driver of the car carrier Esad Sadikovic, 55, of Jacksonville, FL was moved to Westchester Medical Center from Nyack Hospital. He is being treated for multiple fractures. The two engineers on the train were also from Jacksonville, FL and were not injured. The train's driver was James McCormick, 30, and the second engineer was Ryan Pauley, 32.
The car carrier was heading eastbound when it attempted to cross over the tracks. There are no crossing gates at the location. Two of the five cars on the carrier were totaled. The three other cars and one motorcycle had minor damage. EKO Transport of Jacksonville, FL owns the car carrier.
UPDATE 3:30 p.m.:Clarkstown Police and CSX Police are trying to determine the cause of the collision between a CSX train and an 18-wheel tractor-trailer that seriously injured the driver of the car carrier.
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Clarkstown Sgt. Glen Cummings said West Nyack firefighters who first arrived on the scene put out a fire that involved about 75 gallons of diesel fuel. The spill was being cleaned up by the Rockland County HAZMAT Team.
Sgt. Cummings said the unidentified tractor-trailer driver was ejected from the vehicle and first responders found him conscious and moving although incoherent. He was taken to Nyack Hospital with a cracked pelvis and other severe injuries. The train engineer and assistant were not injured.
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“We do know from the engineer that they did blow their horn in order to give him a warning not to cross the track as they were approaching,” said Sgt. Cummings. “But again what happened from that point forward or why the truck went forward we’re not quite certain.”
He said the force of the collision between the northbound train and the tractor-trailer pushed part of the tractor-trailer 300 to 400 yards down the tracks.
Police had closed Western Highway from Doscher Ave past Green Road. In addition to the West Nyack Fire Department, the Hillcrest Fire Department and Nanuet Ambulance crews were at the scene.
-----------------The driver of a car carrier was seriously injured this morning when his truck was hit by a train while crossing the tracks at Pineview Road in West Nyack.
The accident involving a CSX train happened behind homes on Tompkins Avenue. A resident called police about 11:40 a.m. after hearing the crash.
Emergency responders, police, firefighters and hazmat crews are on the scene.
The Clarkstown Police Department issued a statement:
Preliminary info is as follows:
At approx 1140 hrs we received a 911 call from a homeowner in the area alerting us of the collision. The train and vehicle are on fire. One reported injury of unknown type at this time sustained to the driver of the vehicle. The train is placarded to be carrying flammable liquids. Initial reports are that each tank contains less than 500 gallons of crude oil.
This is still a very active scene. As information becomes available, it will be forwarded accordingly.
Sgt. Glen Cummings discussed the accident in this video clip.
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