The front of a Houston Metro light rail train received damage and the train partially derailed to disrupt service during Tuesday morning’s commute. The derailment resulted when a dump truck driver named Paniagua Prisciliano Espino ran a red light and an oncoming light rail train collided with his truck. Some train riders were hurled across the train car and to the floor by the truck collisionimpact.

The dump truck-Metro train accident occurred in downtown Houston around 9:15 a.m. at Main and Capitol Streets. The dump truck-Metro train accident accounted for the 27th light rail accident this year, and Houston Metro’s first derailment of the year. The dump truck-Metro train accident closed down light rail service for about 3 hours while a damaged rail car was removed. Full service resumed on the light rail after about 4 hours.

Espino was driving the dump truck westbound when he ran the red light. The train was traveling southbound and struck the dump truck as Espino crossed against the light. 15 people, including the train driver and Espino, received transport to the hospital for minor injuries. Espino left the hospital before he could receive treatment or a traffic citation.

News accounts say that Espino told the police that he couldn’t see that the traffic light was red because of the sun’s reflection. Ironically, Espino was using the dump truck to haul sand for a project involved in construction of the East End light rail line. A spokesman for Houston Metro said that a firm working for a subcontractor of Houston Rapid Transit had hired Espino.

After colliding with the train, the dump truck struck a heavy trashcan on the street corner and a fire hydrant. The dump truck finally came to rest on the sidewalk in front of Ziggy’s Bar and Grill where the restaurant’s manager and patrons watched in horror, as the truck appeared ready to crash into the eatery.

At Denena Points, PC, our best wishes for quick recoveries go out to the injured commuters and train operator whose morning train rides suffered such a dramatic interruption.

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