An Amtrak conductor, the driver of the semi tractor-trailer and four passengers were killed when the tractor-trailer collided with the train about 70 miles east of Reno, NV on Saturday, June 25, 2011.
The conductor was identified as Laurette Lee, 68, of South Lake Tahoe. The driver of the semi tractor-trailer worked for John Davies Trucking of Battle Mountain, but his name, and the names of the four passengers, have not been released.
The truck was the first in a convoy of three with John Davis Trucking. The drivers of the other two trucks said they saw the train and were waiting for the first truck to stop, but it did not. Investigators found 320-foot skid marks on the road leading to the railroad crossing and the gates and lights at the crossing were operating properly. The train’s engineer reported that he saw the truck approaching and knew there would be a collision. The engineer activated the emergency brakes and the train, which was traveling 78 mph took half a mile to stop.
NTSB investigators will stay at the scene through the week following the crash, and will issue a report. Investigators are not speculating on the cause of the accident.