Train Hits Vet’s Parade, 4 Dead

Train Hits Vet's Parade, 4 Dead

When a train suddenly crashed into a parade float honoring veterans in Midland, Texas, four people died instantly while 17 others were taken to the nearest hospital.

"From what we know right now, apparently there were two fatalities at the time of the incident and two more at the hospital that passed away after they'd been transported," Midland Police Chief Price Robinson said.

Midland Memorial Hospital confirmed the four deaths to ABC News.

10 were in critical condition and seven were in stable condition, of the 17 injured at the hospital, Robinson said.

According to Hamid Vatankhah, a witness who owns a used car lot near the scene of the crash, the float was one of two 18-wheel trailers carrying wounded veterans and their families during the parade when a train approached.

The first truck crossed the tracks in time, but the second did not, Vatankhah said, adding that sirens from the police cars in the parade may have drowned out the sound of the approaching train.

"Some people were able to jump, and some that were sitting in wheelchairs on top couldn't do nothing about it," Vatankhah said.

According to ABC News affiliate KMID-TV, the floats in the Show of Support's Hunt for Heroes parade were crossing Union Pacific train tracks at Garfield Street and Industrial Avenue en route to a Show of Support Banquet around 4:35 p.m. local time.

A Union Pacific spokesman said the eastbound train was sounding its horn before the accident and the crossing gate and lights were working, according to The Associated Press.

KMID reported that witnesses said the gate did not go down before the floats got to the tracks.

The National Transportation Safety Board was launching a team to the site to investigate the crash.

Posted by James Fried on Sunday November 18 2012, 4:27 AM EST. Ref: CNN. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Nation. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0