Portal:Trains/Selected article/Week 24, 2006

Aerial view of the Bourbonnais train accident scene

The Bourbonnais train accident was a train-truck collision between Amtrak's southbound City of New Orleans passenger train and a semi truck that occurred on March 15, 1999, in the city of Bourbonnais, Illinois, south of Chicago. The impact derailed almost the entire train, killing 11 passengers. A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into the accident attributed the cause to the truck driver trying to beat the train across a grade crossing. The NTSB's recommendations from the accident included increased enforcement of grade crossing signals, the installation of event recorders at all new or improved grade crossings as well as procedures to provide emergency responders with accurate lists of all crew members and passengers aboard trains. The city of Bourbonnais erected a memorial near the site to commemorate those killed in the accident.

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