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Thursday, May 03, 2007
Train slams into 18-Wheeler
Vigilance, quick thinking and a reliable camera were all I-Reporter Laura Kennedy needed to capture a locomotive slamming into an 18-wheel truck near Richmond, Texas. She provided CNN with the only known video of the dramatic April 27 accident.

Kennedy and her husband were stopped at a traffic light along Highway 90 when they heard a train approach. Up ahead, they saw that a semi-truck was apparently stuck on railroad tracks that run parallel to the road. They knew the situation was serious.

"When we saw the train coming, my husband mentioned he wished we had a camera, and I said, ‘I do,’ " Kennedy recalls. "I always carry my camera with me."

Kennedy turned on her camera and started recording. "I pulled it out just in time," she says. In her video, the train slams into the United Van Lines Moving and Storage truck as its brakes screech in vain. (Watch her video.)

The trailer was split in half, yet no one was hurt, including the driver, who was still inside the cab.

"I saw the driver get out of the cabin, wave his arms like 'oh well,' and then got back into the cabin," Kennedy says.

Kennedy sent the video to CNN as an I-Report, and within minutes, the images of the dramatic crash were broadcast. The footage later became the most-watched video on CNN.com.

We’re curious. What would you do in this situation?
Posted by Nicole D. Smith: 12:46 PM
2 Comments Add a comment
A perfect example how user generated content can effectively co-exist with professional journalism output of the author - while respecting ethical standards.

In a situation like this - and if I had enough time - I would try to keep the truck driver away from his attempt of getting in his vehicle again :)
Posted By Fanny Facsar, Germany, Europe : 10:39 AM ET  
I too am a trucker, and if I was in this situation, I would just abandon ship and run, it takes a mile for a fully loaded train to stop depending on it's speed of course and where it is at the time of impact, thank goodness the driver was cool in acknowledging he's ok
Posted By M.L. Mitts : 7:00 PM ET  
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