Train Slices Semi in Half Near Saginaw, Scattering Beer Cans Across Tracks on National Beer Day

Mark Ortiz, a commercial truck driver, has been driving for years. But just after 8 a.m. on Monday, he saw something he never expected: a train crashed with a semi on the tracks, cutting the tractor-trailer in half.

Police were summoned to the incident near Hicks Field Road and Saginaw Boulevard in Tarrant County, just north of Saginaw. “It just went boom.” The train kept moving,” Ortiz added, “something you never imagined would happen.”

According to Fort Worth police, no injuries were reported in the crash. Ortiz operates a commercial dump truck. He’s driven across the same railway tracks a thousand times.

“The tracks (crossing arms) were dropping and ding, ding, ding. I noticed the train approaching from right over here. Let me tell you: it was coming, and all I saw was boom!” Ortiz stated.

The impact shattered the cargo of hundreds of beer cans. WFAA crews on the scene captured video of authorities and workmen working to clear debris from the train tracks.

Evan Simental owns and operates ServPro, which is located in the Business Industrial Park. Because this is the only way in and out, the crash disrupted business for ServPro and other companies.

“We heard a horrible noise. We strolled outside our office, and I saw part of the trailer but not the truck’, Simental explained. “Since our office is on this side of the tracks, it’s kind of hindered us from servicing some of our customers who have called.”

ServPro of Fort Worth specialises in water, fire, and mould damage restoration for commercial businesses, as well as housekeeping and recovery services. Evan’s employees constantly enter and exit the same intersection.

“If you’re making a left-hand turn, going southbound, it is a little dangerous in my opinion,” Simental replied. “It always scares me that you have to cross the trains going in and out. This is not the first accident. It’s absolutely time to hold a safety meeting about it. It’s an excellent time for that type of discussion.”

As a Union Pacific Railroad worker rebuilt the damaged crossing arm, Fort Worth Police officers controlled traffic as more semis, industrial trucks, and vehicles lined the shoulders of Highway 287. No one could enter or exit until a commercial wrecker had removed the heavily damaged tractor-trailer and its spilt cargo.

Cleaning up the hundreds of beer cans from the crash took hours, and strangely, it occurred on National Beer Day.

“Have you seen what the beer’s name is? “Crazy Cowboy,” Ortiz explained.

Every year on April 7th, the United States celebrates National Beer Day. Following Prohibition, the Cullen-Harrison Act, which allowed the legal sale of beer with an alcohol concentration of up to 3.2%, was enacted on this date in 1933.

Reference: ‘It just went boom’ | Train crashed into semi truck, spilling beer across North Texas roadway