Sheldon, Iowa — A truck driver, as well as a train’s crew, escaped injury Sunday afternoon when their vehicles collided in Sheldon.
According to the report filed by the Sheldon Police Department, the mishap occurred shortly before 2:00 Sunday afternoon on Railroad Avenue, near the old Sheldon Depot.
Police say a 2020 Freightliner, pulling a tanker trailer owned by JT Trucking of Sheldon and driven by 65-year-old Duane Deno of Gaylord, Minnesota, was eastbound on Railroad Avenue. According to the crash report, Deno told police he had been lost in thought, and began to cross the Union Pacific railroad tracks, not noticing a northbound train. The train’s engineer reportedly told police that the train’s emergency brakes were activated, but the train was unable to stop in time to avoid striking the rear passenger side of Deno’s tanker trailer.
Police say the impact caused the trailer to roll onto its side, becoming uncoupled from the semi-tractor.
No injuries were reported in the crash. Damage to Deno’s semi is estimated at $120,000. Damage to the Union Pacific train was estimated at $20,000, with $100 damage reported to a Railroad Crossing sign owned by Union Pacific.
