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 NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD WASHINGTON, D. C. 20594

RAILROAD/HIGHWAY ACCIDENT REPORT

Adopted: May 12, 1976

COLLISION OF A CROWN-TRYGG CONSTRUCTION COMPANY TRUCK WITH AN AMTRAK PASSENGER TRAIN, ELWOOD, ILLINOIS, NOVEMBER 19, 1975

SYNOPSIS

At 9:10 a.m., c.s.t., on November 19, 1975, Amtrak turboliner passenger train No. 301 was struck by a loaded dump truck on a grade crossing in Elwood, Illinois. The crossing was unprotected and had limited sight clearance between the road and the track. Four cars of the five-car train were derailed and 41 persons were injured. The train was owned by Amtrak and was operated by an Illinois Central Gulf Railroad (ICC) crew over the ICC track. The road was a county highway maintained by the Will County Highway Department.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the truckdriver to stop his vehicle short of the track until it was safe to proceed. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate sight clearance between the road and the track on the approach to the unprotected grade crossing.