Highway Accident Report: Highway/Rail Grade Crossing Collision Near Sycamore, South Carolina May 2, 1995

NHTSA · 1996 · ROSA P / United States. National Transportation Safety Board

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Summary

This National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report investigates a highway/rail grade crossing collision near Sycamore, South Carolina, on May 2, 1995. The incident involved Amtrak Train No. 81 striking a tractor-lowbed semitrailer that had been lodged on a high-profile (hump) railroad crossing for approximately 35 minutes. The accident resulted in 33 minor injuries and over $1.2 million in property damage, with no fatalities. The investigation was motivated by the need to address systemic issues in grade crossing safety, specifically regarding the identification of hump crossings, emergency notification protocols, and the adequacy of commercial driver training. The investigation analyzed the sequence of events, personnel records, and site conditions. The truckdriver, operating for O&J Gordon Trucking Company, became stuck on the passive crossing because the semitrailer’s landing gear, which was partially retracted, embedded into the asphalt surface of the elevated track profile. The driver failed to recognize the incompatibility between his vehicle’s low ground clearance and the crossing’s vertical profile. Despite being stranded for nearly an hour, the driver did not notify the railroad or emergency services, citing a lack of available contact information and failed attempts to use his cellular phone and two-way radio. The train crew applied emergency brakes upon sighting the driver waving his arms, but the train was traveling at 79 mph, making a stop before impact impossible. The NTSB examined factors including driver fatigue, the absence of warning signs for low-clearance vehicles, and the lack of emergency notification devices at the crossing. The NTSB determined the probable cause of the accident was the motor carrier’s failure to provide the driver with appropriate guidance for responding to emergency situations. This failure led to the driver’s inability to understand that the substandard profile of the crossing was incompatible with his truck and his failure to notify the railroad of the blocked track. A contributing factor was the absence of emergency notification information at the crossing that could have allowed the driver to alert authorities. The report highlights that while the driver had prior experience with lowbed trailers, he lacked specific training on the hazards of hump crossings and emergency procedures. Additionally, the investigation found that the crossing lacked passive warnings for low-ground-clearance vehicles, and no standards existed for retrofitting existing crossings with such warnings. The significance of this report lies in its recommendations aimed at preventing future collisions involving low-clearance vehicles. The NTSB issued safety recommendations to various entities, including the Secretary of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and major trucking and railroad associations. Key recommendations include improving the identification and warning systems for hump crossings, establishing reliable emergency notification methods at grade crossings, and enhancing the training and education of commercial drivers regarding grade crossing hazards. The report underscores the critical need for better communication protocols and infrastructure warnings to mitigate risks associated with specialized commercial vehicles at rail-highway intersections.

Key finding

The probable cause of the accident was the motor carrier's failure to provide appropriate guidance to the driver, which led to his failure to recognize the crossing's incompatibility with his vehicle and to notify railroad personnel of the blocked crossing.

Methodology

other

Provenance

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Topics

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• rail grade crossings