Truck jumps over retaining wall, lands on tracks, gets hit by train; driver OK

A tractor-trailer rig that ran off State Route 14 near Skamania Thursday afternoon was struck by a freight train but the truck's driver was not injured.

According to the Washington State Patrol, the 2006 Kenworth truck was eastbound on SR 14 about 12:40 p.m. when the driver, Rasul A. Tedorov, 39, of Vancouver, tried to adjust his electronic navigational gear. While doing so, his truck ran off the south side of the road near mile post 55 and hit a rock retaining wall.

The truck then went over the top of the wall and dropped about 10 feet onto the railroad tracks that run parallel to the highway. The truck landed on its side with Tedorov still inside.

While Tedorov was trying to find his cell phone, the truck -- which was not carrying a load in its trailer -- was struck by an eastbound BNSF freight train, which was carrying lumber.

While Tedorov was not injured, the collision caused the fuel tanks on his truck to rupture and the Washington state Department of Ecology was called to the scene to help clean up the environmental hazard.

WSP reported that Tedorov was accused of second-degree negligent driving.

The Oregonian

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Truck jumps over retaining wall, lands on tracks, gets hit by train; driver OK