Train Versus Truck Crash Near Brooks sends Driver to Hospital

The driver was departing a loading dock.

Video by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com Photo: Marion County Sheriff's Office

(SALEM) - A 56-year old truck driver was hospitalized following a collision between his truck and freight train, near Brooks Friday morning.

Marion County Deputies were called at 10:09 a.m. The collision occurred on private property 200 yards north of the railroad crossing on Brooklake Road NE in Salem.

Traffic Safety Deputy Kevin Ely learned that the driver of the truck, Allen Parks of Amity, was departing the loading dock at Marion AG Service Inc., 3635 Brooklake Road N. Parks is a driver for Simplot Soil Builders in Halsey, Oregon.

Employees had just loaded 35 tons of ammonium sulfate fertilizer into the double trailers of Parks' 1989 Freightliner truck. As he left the loading dock, he started to cross the Portland Western RR tracks adjacent to the facility. Parks failed to yield to the Portland Western Freight train traveling northbound at about 25mph. The conductor of the train, Matthew Astle, 38, said he was unable to stop in time. The impact overturned the truck and trailers, and caused a minor diesel and pellet fertilizer spill. The crossing is on private property and is not controlled by a signal device.

Medics transported Parks to Salem Hospital for treat of head and leg injuries. We have no information his condition.

Neither the conductor nor his assistant was injured.

Marion County Fire District had personnel on the scene dealing with the spills. The Portland Western Railroad will be investigating the crash.

The train will be blocking Brooklake Road for several hours.

Video from the scene by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com