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338 passengers on Amtrak train avoid injuries when train, truck collide in northern ND

MINOT, N.D.—A westbound Amtrak train and a semi with a trailer carrying water collided on the tracks about 20 miles east of Minot early Thursday morning, Aug. 10.

Passengers were stuck on the tracks for about 2.5 hours waiting for minor repairs to the train and for a safety inspection of the train.

The train passengers and crew were not injured in the crash, according to Marc Magliari with Amtrak Media Relations in Chicago.  At the time of the accident 338 passengers and 16 crew members were on the train. The train was able to continue to Minot.

The truck driver, Joshua Guse, 24, of Rugby, N.D., also wasn't injured

The truck carrying water to a nearby job site was traveling west and parallel to the tracks about 7:40 a.m. when Guse slowed, turned north and tried to cross the tracks, state Highway Patrol Sgt. Dave Kolness said.

The crossing didn't have lights or a crossbar.

As he tried to stop, Guse's 2004 Mack truck missed the first engine, but hit the second engine, Kolness said. Eleven Amtrak cars behind the engine were scraped by the front of Guse's semi, Kolness said. The train didn't derail.

Damage was mostly cosmetic to the westbound train, with some minor mechanical problems, Kolness said.

"I still wouldn't have wanted to be on that train," said the patrol sergeant.

Crews were called in to check over the train, make minor repairs, and it was able to make it to Minot.

The accident happened about 2 miles west of the small town of Granville.

Damage to the truck was "disabling and heavy," Kolness said.

Guse was cited for failure to yield.