Update: Trax train, car collide in S. Jordan, van bridge in effect

Utah Transit Authority officials are in South Jordan where a Trax train and a pickup truck collided just south of South Jordan Parkway on Monday night, Oct. 15, 2018. Photo: Gephardt Daily/Monico Garza/SLCScanner

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, Oct. 15, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah Transit Authority alerted the public to a train vs. auto accident Monday night.

Carl Arky, spokesman for UTA, said a pickup truck ran into the Trax train at the Grandview crossing. He added that the police said the driver of the truck ran a red light.

“The young man driving it is very fortunate,” Arky told reporters. “Minor injuries. He was transported to the hospital, but he’s going to be OK.”

The incident occurred at about 8:15 p.m. just south of South Jordan Parkway.

Arky said the train had just left the station farther south, so it was going at a high rate of speed, and it appears that the truck also was moving at a fast rate.

When the truck slammed into the train, the impact not only damaged the train’s car — it derailed the train and took out a catenary pole, which was anchored into the ground with concrete and rebar.

“The damage is to more than the train,” Arky said, pointing out that the whole system in the immediate area is affected.

Asked how long it will be before the system is back in order, Arky replied, “That’s the $64 million question. It’s gonna take a lot of work.”

The first step is to get the train moved, which may require a crane, because two cars were pushed off the track and came uncoupled, he said.

The tracks have to be checked out to make sure they’re in good repair, and the catenary pole and wire have to be put back in place.

UTA posted this tweet late Monday night

“The biggest issue will be getting the power restored,” Arky said.

UTA crews will be on scene all night working on that, he said, and commuters are advised to consult the UTA Twitter feed to see how much progress has been made and where the bus bridges are running.

Anyone who would normally use Trax in this area should plan an alternative route for Tuesday morning, he said, and allow extra time for the bus bridge.

South Jordan Police and South Jordan Fire Department were at the scene for traffic control and public safety.

South Jordan Fire Battalion Chief Michael Richards said the pickup truck was eastbound on South Jordan Parkway when it collided with the train.

There was only one passenger on the train, he said, and that person was evaluated on scene and was not transported to a hospital.

The incident is still under investigation, and officials will be viewing video from the area and attempting to determine what the driver of the truck was doing before crashing into the train. Arky said it didn’t appear that the driver was impaired, but that will be part of the investigation.

 

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