Here are a few stories in the press, the cars were just on the way back form
a show!!! Its funny I'm on three different non-related lists and the story
has hit all three!!!
Patton
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Train hits truck hauling vintage Porsches
The Ventura County Star
September 13, 2004
A freight train hit a truck towing several vintage sports cars
Sunday in Ventura, leaving one person with minor injuries, authorities said.
The truck, which was towing a car carrier with five vintage Porsches
worth about $250,000, was traveling north on Figueroa Street and attempted
to cross over Harbor Boulevard, Ventura Police Lt. David Wilson said.
"The load was just too low, which made it difficult to get it over
the tracks," Wilson said.
Ventura Police attempted to contact the train company to stop any
oncoming trains, but in less than one minute a freight train heading north
struck the stranded truck. The impact of the crash also derailed the train's
front end, Wilson said.
The driver of the truck, Ricardo Tarin, 42, of Buena Park, injured
his shoulder as he tried to flee his vehicle. He was treated at Ventura
County Medical Center and released, Wilson said.
The accident caused a minor fuel spill and some train delays.
Traffic was backed up to downtown Ventura. Train service was stopped and is
expected to resume by this morning, Wilson said.
The Porsches were featured over the weekend during a German car show
at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
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>From ABC7
Last Updated: Sep 13, 2004
Truck Driver Leaps to Safety
Los Angeles - The driver of a truck loaded with vintage Porsches
leaps to safety just before a train broadsides his vehicle.
It happened near the Ventura County Fairgrounds near Highways 101
and 33.
The driver of the car-carrier became hung up on the railroad tracks.
He called to have train traffic stop, but moments later, a freight train
drove straight through. The driver was able to jump out in time.
No one was seriously hurt, but four sports cars - some valued at
more $100,000 were destroyed.
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>From the AP...
VENTURA, Calif. (AP) - A car-carrier loaded with vintage Porsches was struck
by a freight train Sunday after becoming stranded on railroad tracks,
officials said.
The accident occurred about 3:45 p.m. near the Ventura County
Fairgrounds, said Lt. David Wilson of the Ventura Police Department, who was
at the scene.
The car-carrier was "high-centered" on the railroad tracks and the
driver was trying to maneuver it off the tracks when Wilson arrived. Wilson
said he called to have train traffic stopped, but a northbound freight train
came barreling down the track only moments later. "We were able to get the
driver out of the cab, luckily," Wilson said. The driver suffered minor
injuries while fleeing from the impact, Wilson said.
The vintage Porsches "are close to totaled, if not totaled," Wilson
said. "The train center-punched the trailer carrying the cars and split the
trailer in half, and the cars went flying," he said. No crew members on the
train were injured, but the front wheels of the locomotive derailed, said
John Bromley, a spokesman for Union Pacific. Debris was being removed from
under the locomotive late Sunday night and there was no estimate on when the
tracks would be cleared, Bromley said.
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