Amtrak train collides with tractor-trailer in Sharon
February 28, 2023 | By Lisa Scagliotti This post was updated with new information from the DMV on Friday, March 3.
The Amtrak Vermonter proceeds south after a collision Monday morning with a tractor-trailer carrying stone from a quarry in Sharon. The wrecked trailer and stone are beside the tracks. Photo courtesy Vermont State Police
No injuries were reported on Monday when the southbound Amtrak Vermonter train collided with a tractor-trailer carrying a load of stone from a quarry in the town of Sharon.
The mishap occurred on Quarry Road near Vermont Route 14 at about 11:45 a.m. according to Vermont State Police.
The train struck the trailer portion of the vehicle driven by Michael Delaney, 62, of Leicester, Massachusetts. The trucking company involved is Lajoie Brothers Transport of Charlton, Massachusetts, police said.
The train had 68 passengers and eight crew members aboard, according to a spokeswoman for the railway. The train continued down the tracks to White River Junction with passengers aboard.
“Passengers were provided bus service as an alternative mode of transportation to their destination,” said Jen Flanagan with Amtrak. Buses took southbound passengers from White River Junction to Springfield, Massachusetts, where they were able to resume their trip by train. Buses also were secured for passengers from the northbound train to transport them from Springfield to St. Albans, she explained.
In addition to state police, personnel from the Department of Motor Vehicles Enforcement and Safety division responded. State police noted that the DMV would conduct the investigation into the crash.
Amtrak’s Vermonter runs daily between Washington, D.C. and St. Albans with stops in either direction in Waterbury.
Tuesday update
In an update on Tuesday, Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles Enforcement officials explained that the collision happened on the upper end of Quarry Road which only serves Black River Quarries. The spot was at an “unguarded rail crossing,” according to a DMV news release.
“The tractor-trailer unit was in motion as it crossed the tracks, at which point the Amtrak train collided with the trailer that was hauling stone. The trailer broke free from the truck at impact, keeping the truck from being dragged along the tracks. The distance from point of impact to the train’s final position of rest was 926 feet,” the release states.
The speed limit for passenger rail on this section of track is 59 mph. According to Amtrak Police, the train was traveling at 57 mph when the impact occurred, officials said.
A crew from New England Central Railroad has conducted a safety inspection of the tracks and they did not find any damage as a result of the collision, according to the update.
The truck driver was issued a violation for attempting to cross the railroad tracks when unsafe to do so. According to Steve Cuttita with DMV Enforcement and Safety, the ticket carries a fine of $220. On Thursday, Cuttita said that the state portion of the investigation is now completed.
Amtrak Police also were investigating the incident.