A freight train and a septic truck were involved in a dramatic collision at a Virginia railroad crossing last week, resulting in the destruction of the vehicle and a spill of sewage at the site.
The incident occurred around 4 p.m. on May 14, as reported by the Chesapeake Police Department. A bystander’s video captured the moment when the septic truck attempted to cross the tracks, only to be struck side-on by an approaching Norfolk Southern train.
Upon impact, the truck was knocked over, spilling its contents onto the ground.
A witness, Azuriah O’Daniel, captured the collision on video. (Azuriah O’Daniel via Storyful)
According to a statement on the police department’s Facebook page, initial investigations suggest the truck did not stop at a clearly marked stop sign before the crash. The case is currently under active investigation.
Azuriah O’Daniel, who recorded the incident, mentioned to WAVY-TV that the train conductor sounded a loud horn to alert the truck driver of the imminent danger.
“I don’t think a lot of people realize they’re not cars. They don’t have rubber tires,” O’Daniel said. “It’s steel rails with steel wheels. When you grind those two together, that’s instant sparks.”
He noted that the crossing is private and lacks the typical warning devices used to alert drivers.
The tank of the septic truck separated from the main cabin and spewed onto the road after it was struck crossing the train tracks. (Azuriah O’Daniel via Storyful)
When police arrived at the scene, they found the overturned truck and a male driver with life-threatening injuries. The driver was listed in stable condition on Friday, WAVY-TV reported.
Authorities have not yet released his identity. No one on the train was injured, Norfolk Southern told Fox News Digital.
The train appeared to smash through the tank on the back of the septic truck as it crossed the tracks. (Azuriah O’Daniel via Storyful)
The accident caused a “minor fuel‑related hazmat situation,” police said, but there was “no immediate danger to the public.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Chesapeake Police Department.
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