Train-Semi Crash Blocks Intersection, Causes Fuel Spill

HAWTHORNE – On Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) responded to a significant accident at a railroad crossing in the city of Hawthorne.

A train collided with two semi-trucks at a railway crossing causing a major incident. One person was injured and transported to Shands Hospital for further treatment and evaluation.

While one of the semi-trucks sustained only minor damage, the other semi-truck, which bore the brunt of the impact, was visibly crushed in the front, with its engine compartment almost entirely destroyed.

The freight train, still on the tracks, sustained impact damage, while the semi’s trailer remained partially intact but displaced. The force of the impact led to a complete blockage of the railway and intersection, causing a spill from a large diesel fuel tank.

Fire crews from Melrose, Windsor, and Gainesville Fire Rescue joined ACFR to handle the incident. The situation was quickly brought under control, with all hazards effectively mitigated. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and CSX, the train’s operator, were also on the scene to manage environmental concerns and assess railway conditions.

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