WATCH: Texas train crashes into tractor-trailer, derails
PECOS CITY, Texas - Two people are dead, and three others were injured after a train crashed into a tractor-trailer and derailed in West Texas. The two men who died were both employees of the Union Pacific Railroad.
What happened: The crash happened around 5 p.m. on Wednesday in Pecos, Texas, about an hour west of Odessa.
Video of the incident shows a tractor-trailer carrying a large load stopped on the railway tracks, when a train comes barreling through and crashes into the truck.
The train then derailed. Video from Reeves County shows several train cars off the tracks, damaging the Chamber of Commerce building nearby.
There was significant damage to the Chamber of Commerce building and some of those with minor injuries were inside that building at the time of the crash. No one is allowed into the Chamber of Commerce building until the structure can be deemed safe. There are no homes in the area of the crash.
One person died at the scene of the crash. The other died on Thursday morning, according to city officials.
City officials have not released the names of those who were killed, pending notification of next of kin. The names of those with minor injuries have also not been released.
Three cars on the train contained potentially hazardous materials, but Reeves County officials say no hazardous materials were released and there is no danger to the public. One of the train cars was carrying lithium batteries. Another held airbags for vehicles. The battery container was not compromised, but investigators are making sure the batteries were not damaged. The airbag container is not considered a serious threat to the public.
Six NTSB investigators responded to the scene of the crash.
Train Derailments
By the numbers: According to the Federal Railroad Administration, there have been 6,806 train derailments in the United States January 2021 and September 2024.
755 of those were in Texas. The state with the next most was Illinois with 484.
Many of the derailments did not lead to injuries, but some, like the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio have put people on edge.
What they're saying: The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen National President Eddie Hall released a statement Thursday afternoon about the fatal train crash.
"This was a tragic accident, and a reminder that much more needs to be done to make railroading safer. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is limited in what we can say about this collision and derailment because we are a party to the investigation that has been launched by the National Transportation Safety Board. What we can and must say is that this accident should serve as a wake-up call to legislators to improve rail safety all across the United States. All railroad accidents are avoidable," he said.
What's next: The union called on Congress and state legislatures to pass comprehensive rail safety legislation. Some changes they are seeking include steps to make rail crossings safer, mandate proper staffing and provide time for regular rail car inspections.