Henry County

Video shows train crash through tractor-trailer

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — A railroad line through Henry County is back open after a train collided with a tractor-trailer stuck on the tracks.

The crash happened on Highway 42 and Bowden Road, near City Hall in downtown Locust Grove, just before noon Thursday.

Channel 2’s Richard Elliot spoke with a woman who lives barely 100-yards from the intersection and she said trucks get stuck in that same spot about once or twice a month.

Kelli Nichols captured incredible video of the moment the tractor-trailer was hit by an oncoming double stacked freight train.

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“It did shake me to the core, but I was thankful that I could tell that there weren’t any people in the truck,” Nichols said.

Maryann Morfoot has lived 100 yards from the Bowden Street crossing for nearly 40 years. She said she sees trucks stuck there all the time.

Morfoot told Elliot that her biggest fear is that one day a collision will be serious enough to derail the train.

“I wish the truck drivers would read the signs,” Morfoot said. “Our fear is always that something on a train would be dangerous, and there’s no way for us to get out. Luckily, this time it was just candy. I’m glad it was just candy.”
Crews needed a few hours to clean up all the buttermint candies that were scattered everywhere after the train hit the trailer.
Police plan to cite the truck driver after it was obvious he ignored several warning signs posted near the tracks.
Ruth Mote lives nearby and has seen trucks get stuck there before, too. She thinks the driver should be charged.
“I think it’s ridiculous because the driver should’ve been paying attention,” Mote told Elliot.
Crews had the area cleaned up pretty quickly and after a couple of hours, that train was able to leave.
Elliot said he saw other trains coming through since then.