Semi Hit By Train Spills 37,000 Pounds Of Glass Bottles: Police

PLAINFIELD, IL — Multiple roads and railroad crossings were shut down for several hours Friday evening after a semi-trailer was hit by a train in Plainfield, police said. The semi was hit on the Canadian National tracks on Route 126 east of Route 59 just after 5 p.m.

Plainfield Cmdr. Ken Ruggles said the semi was heading west on Route 126 and was stopped in traffic when the grade crossing signals warned of an approaching train. The driver told police he thought he had pulled far enough up to clear the tracks, but the train struck the rear of the tractor/trailer, spilling 37,000 pounds of empty glass bottles into the road and grade crossing.

Police said part of the trailer also hit the grade crossing signal post, destroying it.

The crash caused several roads and train crossings to be shut down for several hours Friday night:

• Van Dyke Road north of 143rd Street
• 143rd Street east of Van Dyke Road
• Naperville/Plainfield Road east of IL Route 59
• Route 126 (Main Street) east of IL Route 59
• Center Street south of IL Route 126
• Eastern Ave south of IL Route 126

By 8 p.m., all roads had reopened except Route 126, which remained closed to clean up debris and make repairs to the railroad warning signals.

Police said no one was hurt and no hazardous materials were released as a result of the crash.

Related: Train Derailment Spills 40,000 Pounds Of Oil In Plainfield

The semi driver, identified as Marcus Palmer of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was cited for blocking a railroad grade crossing and released.

Police reminded drivers to never stop on a railroad grade crossing.