Train crashes into a turbine because a truck does not cross in time

A train collided with a wind turbine blade Sunday afternoon in South Texas after the truck carrying the turbine blade failed to clear the tracks in time at a railroad crossing. The accident occurred in Luling, Texas, which is about 58 miles east of San Antonio.

Train crashes into a turbine because a truck does not cross in time

Local news, KXAN, reports that there were no serious injuries in the collision. However, that turbine blade doesn’t look like it’s going to make it. And the truck didn’t fare well either. The train sustained some damage and some of its crew members were transported to the hospital.

The accident occurred in Luling, Texas, which is about 58 miles east of San Antonio. According to NEWS4SA, the intersection is “the first exit to Luling from US 183,” and locals know it as a dangerous crossing.

That same report says the truck was one of a handful of trailers carrying the same load earlier in the day.

KXAN claims the railroad crossing arms were not down when the truck attempted to cross the tracks. That turbine blade isn’t exactly an easy payload to haul, and any turn would be hard to negotiate with that thing.

A turn involving a railroad crossing is just another level of NOPE if there is any uncertainty. The same report has an alternate angle of the accident, recorded from an adjacent gas station.

Wind turbine blades are more or less a common sight on Texas highways because there are so many wind farms here. The Lone Star State is a (mostly) flat, massive expanse of land, well suited for this particular renewable energy source.