The driver of a pickup truck that collided with the Denton A-Train Thursday morning has died.[[320903981,C]]
Just before 9 a.m. the Denton County Transportation Authority A-Train collided with a pickup truck at the W. Hundley Drive and S. Denton Drive crossing in Lake Dallas, between the Highland Village/Lewisville Lake and MedPark stations, and was knocked off the tracks.
According to Chad Thiessen with the Lake Cities Fire Department, the driver of the truck struck by the train was transported to an area hospital, but died later that day. The identity of the driver has not yet been released.
About 32 passengers were on the northbound train at the time of the collision and told NBC 5 they felt the train shake before coming to a stop. They then had to wait on board for about an hour before being escorted off the train and onto buses and driven to the next stop, MedPark Station.
Part of the train was knocked off the tracks and part of the crossing arm was damaged in the crash, knocking out commuter train service until about 2:30 p.m. and blocking traffic from crossing the intersection until about 1 p.m.
Brian Scott, NBC 5 NewsAfter service resumed Thursday, the A-Train began crossing the intersection at much slower speeds with its horn blaring, as is policy after an incident according to DCTA communications.
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Leaders with the transit authority said a rail operations investigation determined the truck drove through the west side crossing gate while it was in the down position, causing the collision. They said all crossing notifications were operable and in full effect, including crossing gates, flashing-signal lights, audible warnings and crossbucks to indicate the railway crossing.
Vice President of Communication Nicole Recker said they continue to urge everyone to observe safety signs and measures around the tracks and to pay attention to their surroundings.
The DCTA website contains an entire section on rail safety that includes several warnings about the danger of getting in the train’s path.
NBC 5's Brian Scott, Frank Heinz and Holley Ford contributed to this report.
