Train-truck crash, earlier accident disrupt traffic

A train versus tow truck crash near Derby caused traffic delays at the intersection of K-15 and 63rd Street South midday Wednesday.

Despite extensive damage to some of the vehicles involved, only minor injuries were reported following two separate crashes, the first of which occurred just before noon.

According to Capt. Mark Pierce of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, an initial four-car crash at the intersection – where train tracks run parallel to K-15 – occurred, which resulted in three people being transported to Wesley Medical Center for minor injuries.

As a tow truck was in the process of securing one of the vehicles in that crash, Pierce said, a passing train clipped the bed of the truck, sending a car flying. No injuries were reported from the second crash, Pierce said.

At about 2 p.m. on Wednesday, a small red car was seen badly damaged on the west side of the train tracks, while a damaged SUV sat on a tow truck on the east side of the tracks.

“One of the tow trucks working to clean up the scene of the first accident clearly got too close to the train tracks,” Pierce said. “It looks like the train just got the rear of the truck, maybe even the car as it was being loaded.”

Traffic on 63rd Street was blocked by the stopped train as of midafternoon Wednesday. A Happy Hooker Towing truck appeared to be the truck that was clipped by the train.

When reached Wednesday afternoon, a Happy Hooker employee said the company had no comment on the incident.

This story was originally published November 16, 2016 at 3:39 PM with the headline "Train-truck crash, earlier accident disrupt traffic."