Sheep die when train hits truck

SPANISH FORK — Twenty-eight sheep were killed Friday when a freight train smacked into the rear-end of a semitrailer that was hauling the flock to a Utah Valley farm.

Police say the driver of the truck was making a right turn from U.S. 6 onto 3450 East in Spanish Fork. He was cautiously watching the cars behind him because he had to make such a wide turn and did not look for a train.

The driver was half-way across the tracks before he realized a train was coming.

He hit the gas pedal hoping to beat the eastbound train, which was traveling about 40 mph, but could not avoid the collision, Spanish Fork Police Sgt. Brandon Anderson said.

The impact opened up the rear of the semitrailer "like a pop can" and tore off the rear axle, Anderson said.

Many of the sheep were thrown from the semi-trailer after impact, Anderson said.

Neither the semi driver nor anyone on the Utah Railways train were injured, Anderson said.

The train derailed upon impact. There is a stop sign and sign indicating train tracks at the intersection where the collision occurred but no signal lights or safety gates, Anderson said.

Anderson said the intersection has not been a problem for accidents.

"I don't call very many, if any, accidents at this intersection," he said.

The sheep — 100 plus — were being transported from Texas.

A tow truck pulled the trailer off the tracks and the remaining sheep were placed in a nearby field. It was not immediately known Friday if they would continue to the farm in Utah County or return to Texas.

The trailer was going to be taken to a junkyard. The cleanup effort was not finished until about 8:30 p.m., and while U.S. 6 remained open the entire time, police kept 3450 East closed until they cleared the scene.

The train suffered severe exterior damage and was taken back to Provo. The tracks were undamaged.

Anderson said an investigation is ongoing. The driver was not cited on Friday.

This is the second sheep-related traffic fatality in three weeks. On Dec. 19, 124 sheep died in Spanish Fork when a dog chased them into the path of an oncoming train.

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Contributing: Jeremy Twitchell, Associated Press

E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com