1 dead after crash, train derailment in south Bossier Parish

ELM GROVE, La. — One person is dead following a collision Thursday evening between an 18-wheeler and a train that resulted in a derailment in Bossier Parish, according to the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office.

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The crash happened just before 5 p.m. Three locomotives and 21 rail cars derailed after the crash at the U.S. Highway 71 and Smith Road railroad crossing.

Jeff Spearman, a Rig Runner safety officer, witnessed the crash.

"I saw the train coming from the north side and I saw the cars coming up behind me. I was like, now these are not going to make it. So, you know, to make sure they saw the train and they saw me, I turned sideways, held my hand out, got the traffic stopped before they got to the railroad itself. And while I was sitting there, my guys stopped and the train came through," Spearman said.

"And as I look up, all I see is a bunch of dust and the truck that got hit. And then to see something like this, somebody just came back across and just didn't make it or, you know, didn't see it or didn't hear it, you know, it's, it hurts. It I mean, every every loss of life or, you know, anything like that. Any major injuries. I mean, it hurts when you're right there and you see it and there's nothing you can do, you know," he said.

The Bossier Parish coroner was on the scene Thursday night. No information about the victim was immediately available.

The train crew was taken to the hospital to be checked out, a spokesman for CPKC said in a statement to KTBS.

"Local emergency response officials are on the scene and additional CPKC crews are responding. The circumstances of the crossing collision are under investigation. The crew aboard the train is okay but was taken to a local hospital for evaluation," the CPKC spokesman said.

Because of the cleanup that will be required, Highway 71 between Highway Highway 154 and Highway 527 will be closed through Friday night, the sheriff's office said.

Motorists are urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes while emergency crews and investigators continue working at the scene.