Wisconsin Garbage Truck Collides With, Derails Train

RUSK COUNTY, WI — A train in northwestern Wisconsin was derailed after authorities say a garbage truck driver failed to yield to the locomotive, causing a collision.

According to The Wisconsin State Patrol, authorities received report of a garbage truck colliding with a train on Cranberry Lake Road north of US-8 in Rusk County near Weyerhauser just before 7 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29.

A preliminary investigation indicated the garbage truck failed to yield to the train. The driver of the garbage truck, age 32, of Bruce, Wis. suffered serious injuries and was eventually transported to Luther Hospital in Eau Claire for treatment.

The train’s engineer, 47, of Ladysmith, Wis. was transported to Ladysmith Hospital for treatment. The driver’s identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The State Patrol is investigating the crash which includes a reconstruction and a post-crash inspection. The train is operated by Canadian National and the garbage truck is owned by Waste Management.

The locomotive was derailed from the track after the collision and has since been placed back on the rails. The garbage truck leaked fuel after the crash and the DNR is assisting with coordinating the clean up.

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image via wisconsin state patrol