(Le Mars) — A semi truck and trailer collided with an Union Pacific train at the rail crossing on Plymouth Street in front of the Fareway supermarket. The accident happened at about 3:30 Friday afternoon. The truck was hauling fresh turkey breast meat and was scattered on the tracks. The locomotive engine made
contact with the semi truck and trailer, with the cab on the west side of the tracks and the trailer on the east side of the tracks. The truck was heading westbound on Plymouth Street. The female truck driver, identified as 56 year old
Jeanie Harmdierks of Alpena, South Dakota, appeared to be shaken following the accident, but appeared not to be seriously injured. She was taken to the hospital by the Le Mars Ambulance Service. The Union Pacific train, which extended more than a mile long, was pulling empty grain cars. Witnesses to the
accident say the truck driver initially stopped at the rail crossing, then proceeded to attempt to cross the tracks when the collision occurred. Curt Uden watched the collision between the semi truck and the train.
Officer Jay King of the Le Mars Police Department happened to be at the Central Avenue rail crossing when he looked north and saw the collision.
According to the police traffic accident report, Harmdierks approached the rail crossing and stopped. After a non-contact pick-up truck that was heading eastbound, stopped and then proceeded, Harmdierks decided to also proceed
through the rail crossing. Officer King says the rail crossing lights were working and the bell was ringing, and the train was sounding its horn moments prior to the collision.
Officer King says fortunately for the town of Le Mars, the train was not hauling any hazardous materials.
It was nearly midnight before the truck was removed from the scene and the train proceeded to head southbound through town. Traffic is being detoured around the accident scene, and will continue to be detoured until such time the railroad is able to install another rail crossing warning lights.
