An accident occurred near Pueblo, Colorado, when a coal train derailment caused a railroad bridge to collapse over Interstate 25 on Sunday afternoon, October 15, 2023. The incident resulted in the death of a 60-year-old semi-truck driver from California whose truck was crushed by the bridge and falling train cars.

Derailment Details Emerge

The data available shows that the coal train had about 30 cars out of 124 derailed during the incident. 

Fortunately, there were no reported injuries among the train’s crew. The details surrounding any other involved vehicles or the root cause of the derailment are still under investigation. The NTSB is currently overseeing the probe into this accident.

What Caused the Crash?

Early observations suggest the possibility that the train’s impact with the bridge might have led to alterations in the structure’s support beams, possibly causing the collapse.

The event caused a disruption in transportation on the relevant section of Interstate 25, stretching approximately nine miles.

Who’s to Blame? Ownership Debate

A debate has arisen regarding the bridge’s ownership. While the Colorado Department of Transportation believes that BNSF Railway owns the bridge, BNSF says the bridge is state-owned.

With the investigations still in process, the local populace is looking forward to a definitive understanding of the accident’s origins.