Aftermath: Surviving a Train Wreck

See the full video here: • When the Levee Breaks:...
At 10:30 PM on the night of June 6th, 2019, Norfolk Southern intermodal train 25z, bound for Chicago, struck a vehicle that was parked on the mainline at North Main Street. Abandoned by the driver, the vehicle was struck at the track speed of 60MPH.
The speeding train, which was immediately thrown into emergency, derailed as the locomotives continued through the crossover switch at milepost 307. The vehicle was lodged in the switch, which caused many of the train’s cars and containers to jump the track.
There were no fatalities, but just barely. Living right next to the crossover, Ed Poitinger and his wife, Tia, were asleep in their home. They were immediately woke by the loud sound of the train as the intermodal containers piled high in their back yard, nearly crashing into their home.
The next morning, on June 7th, we set-up to document the derailment from Ed and Tia’s home. It truly was a miracle that they survived the wreck, considering these intermodal containers were only a few feet from smashing into their house and garage. Thankful to be alive, the Poitinger’s spoke with us about their frightening experience.
Throughout the day, Norfolk Southern would work tirelessly to clear the mainline of debris. With both tracks blocked and destroyed by the derailment, RJ Corman was called in to assist with the cleanup effort. With every passing minute, more and more high-priority freight trains were being delayed by the massive derailment.
With a population of 3,800 people, Swanton is the epitome of Small Town, USA. Located 18 miles to the west of downtown Toledo, Norfolk Southern’s Chicago Line runs right through the center of town. With an estimated train count of 60 per 24 hours, the Chicago Line, part of the NS Dearborn Division, is one of the busiest railroad lines in the United States.
This corridor is also the straightest double-track mainline in North America, with 67 miles of continuous straight track between Toledo, Ohio and Butler, Indiana. Built in the late 1850s, this line would become part of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad and later, the New York Central System.
Due to the derailment, stopped trains in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania meant extreme congestion for this already busy mainline. With that in mind, we planned to return the following day to watch the levee break.
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Thanks,
-DIB

[@michaelchisling]

I would have went and bought a lottery ticket immediately.

[@joanmcclellan9236]

Same buddy same

[@susangordonmerdler4036]

I find it humorous and ironic that he described the sound of the wreck as "like a tornado." When a tornado strikes, it's always described as sounding like a freight train!

[@chooch1995]

Interchangeable!!

[@silverfir]

I was just about to comment this

[@guessworkgarage8222]

Lol

[@fhowland]

Haha I had the same thought

[@robs1852]

So evidently they do sound the same

[@matthewjones1119]

I love how he’s talking about a possible explosion from the propane as he has a cigarette in his hand

[@rjohnson1690]

That’s the first thing I noticed too!

[@danbukala2429]

Hahaha!!! Me too!!!!

[@xxboonisbadfortnitexx1549]

Yep

[@jwtish7825]

Exactly what I was about to say!

[@easternncrailfan7594]

Same,

[@Schultz-ko3ve]

folks being interviewed describing a tornado "it sounded like a freight train". Folks interviewed describing a train wreck "it sounded like a tornado..." LOL

[@RyohuHajimeRX-0UnicornGundam]

Thanks D.I.B.P. for sharing this. I remember my aunt (who lives not far from the line) told me about this derailment and I was very thankful that no one was injured or killed. One other thing to add, apparently the woman who left her car on the middle of the tracks was apparently drunk and left her car there because she wasn't thinking straight. After the derailment occurred, she did turn herself in to the police (thanks for that info) and later was sued by Norfolk Southern and probably sent to jail, or worse, prison. If there is one lesson myself and other railfans should learn for this, is that you should NEVER drink while driving a car! Thank you and keep making wonderful train videos!

[@tomt9543]

@Trains, Farm Machines, and FNAF Having worked for NS for 40+ years, I can pretty confidently say that NS is too tight to spend the money to sue her! Suing her personally would be a waste of time, and her insurance coverage wouldn’t even begin to cover the damages here! As a “for instance”, when someone pulls out in front of a train and gets injured or killed, they (or their families) usually sue the railroads even though they ignored the signals or drove around the crossing gates. These cases almost never go to court because the railroads settle them by paying the involved parties off. They know they could win in the courtroom, but the costs to “win” usually far eclipse what the out of court settlement costs! The situation in the case of this video will mostly go like this: NS attorneys and bean counters look at it and think “we can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to go to court and recoupe a small percentage of the damages from the insurance co., or we can spend 0 dollars suing them, fix the damage and get back to moving freight”. These class 1 railroads are self insured, and this is how they work! “Winning” means nothing if you’ve spent all that money on legal fees, and the insurance payoff is just a little more than what the legal fees are! Then there is still the damage to physical plant and equipment, but the settlement money was nearly gone when the lawyers were paid! Big industry!

[@tehpw7574]

@@tomt9543 Did the woman serve any jail time? Lawsuits aside, there was at least 1 crime committed against the rail line...?

[@tomt9543]

@@tehpw7574 No idea

[@6777Productions]

Definitely a story no one else will have, glad you were able to capture and preserve it, Drayton

[@ericzerkle5214]

I live 500 feet away from this line in Indiana and we had a wreck here in 2010 and the sound is just like a tornado. Its damn loud and crazy!

[@metromainline]

That's insane. I'm just glad they are ok

[@Cartbs229]

Whatever Metrolink cab car

[@metromainline]

@@Cartbs229 Hope you have a nice day! :)

[@Cartbs229]

@@metromainline I will

[@markeholbrook]

I survived a trail derailment once, it was on the Whitewater Valley Railroad operating between Connersville and Metamora Indiana in 1978 or 1979 I think. It was pulled by a Lima steam engine which is now retired, due to the expenses required to run it. At that time they leased the tracks, and they were very poorly maintained, but they managed to buy the railroad property later. So anyway we were traveling along at a very leisurely pace and we went into a curve, and a whole section of track just rolled over. Then there was a bit of commotion as the cars exited the track and bounced along for a few seconds. I don't think anyone got seriously injured, but I'm sure there were minor injuries. Then we had to wait for the Diesel engine to come rescue us, and that was a long wait. The bad part for me was no one could exit the train. I wanted to see what was going on from outside!

[@jovetj]

Wow! I didn't know that abandoned lines turned to trails were still at risk for derailments! ;-)

[@tomt9543]

The longest straight mainline trackage in the US is on the current CSX line between Wilmington and Hamlet, NC. The 78.9 miles of the former Seaboard Air Line railroad starting at Laurel Hill, NC and running east to East Arcadia, NC.. This line is single track. Regional rail fans call it “the tangent”.

[@Noonespecial237]

You will all be happy to know that in the year or so since this incident, train lengths have doubled and tonnage has almost tripled. That’s on a per train basis.. GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY...NS engineer 20 years..

[@robsan52]

Yeah I just found out about that on the U.P. 'Unlimited Parking' is a bit of a dinosaur technologically, they couldn't even get 70 car trains over the road in the NW (40 yr railroader, 3 nightmare years as engr' for U.P.)

[@OutaTimeFPV]

I love how this was released right as I’m on Amtrak California Zephyr 😂

[@rivitedrailfan]

Great video! Always great to know that there weren’t any fatalities or major property damage, even if the derailment was horrible itself.

[@AnthonyWrightFilms]

What a wreck! Thankfully nobody was hurt! Thank you for including my drone footage!!

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Anthony, your drone footage was amazing. I’m so glad you were there to record it. -Drayton

[@ECsponger2]

"Propane smell was terrible" *smoking a cigarette*

[@BERXJoe]

Don't tell me the mighty hand of God was not with this lovely couple that evening! I am glad nobody was hurt. Great video Drayton!

[@CiaGuy]

the mighty hand of god was not with this couple

[@BERXJoe]

@@CiaGuy No? So then what was it? Coincidence? It takes a lot more faith to believe those train cars and containers missed their home by mere inches because of councidence then it does to believe God placed His hand of protection over it. I feel very badly for people with no faith.

[@CiaGuy]

@@BERXJoe lmao, it's a thing called physics which can be proven scientifically. It doesn't take faith to believe in the truth.

[@BERXJoe]

@@CiaGuy Colossians 1:17 tells us that "He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." All means all. That includes physics. Further, the scripture tells us in Psalm 115:3 "But our God is in heaven: He does whatever He pleases." I could go on and on and on. There is simply nothing you can throw at me that there is not an answer for somewhere within the pages of Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. I am not engaging in a back and forth with you over this if all you want to do is be right and have hardened your heart against the Father. Whether you agree or not, this argument was won at Calvary.

[@Island_Line_Rail_Productions]

@@BERXJoe definitely not god....where was god on ww1 & ww2? 9/11? etc etc etc? just luck

[@chesapeakedproductions3009]

This accident really was almost close to being similar to the first Cajon Pass runway where most of the train just crushed and collapsed houses like toothpicks. They are so lucky that the train just missed destroying their entire home

[@TheCobalt100]

Wow, this was so horrifying. It was very disturbing. I am surprised they even showed it on You Tube.

[@alicecoppers8980]

Guy smoking a cigarette while the propane is leaking? Gimme a break

[@tvm73827]

The guy literally lives through a miracle. I’m sure he’s a bundle of nerves and nicotine is known to calm people, particularly those addicted to it. So please give him a break. by the way propane dissipates in a few hours. So other than the health risks of smoking for him and his significant other, there’s no risk of a fire.

[@dougkubash8673]

Thank God everyone is OK! Wow!

[@DNR5586]

Glad Ed, Tia and their home are safe, but that Trans Am. That was close!!

[@grosseileracingteam]

Ohio is a trainwreck. Glad their neighbor came by to see if the were awake...after a train derailed in their backyard. Maybe NS will buy them a trailer for that nice tri hull boat in their backyard.

[@benzgang3639]

“Hide your kids hide your wife hide your husband because they derailin everythin round here!” 🤣🤣🤣

[@thebusterdog6358]

I wonder how long it took to get their yard back into the shape it was before the wreak?

[@thepubliceye]

Train speed in towns was an issue, 60pmh is way to fast

[@dknowles60]

no it is not

[@animal16365]

The lady that caused this derailment was let off very easy

[@maximelesperance4132]

Details please ?

[@kevinmielke4296]

@@maximelesperance4132 she only got to do community service or probation something like that. Definitely wasn't enough.

[@fhowland]

Unreal. She should’ve had jail time!

[@lnproductions3227]

Hope everyone is alright and prayers be with them

[@meTimetraveler]

i believe the propane tank is for the winters to keep the switch from freezing with a burner

[@kyleftw1679]

It would be nice living that close to some railroad tracks, but dangerous as shown

[@UnionCountyPhotography]

The Lehigh Line is right outside of my backyard and I hope this doesn’t happen to me

[@usmale4915]

What a well constructed video. Thank you for posting!

[@flyingfortressrc1794]

Wow I'm surprised I never heard of this derailment since I live in Defiance.

[@Lakeside_Rail_Productions]

Lucky folks for sure. Still not sure about having my lifelong dream of living next to a mainline!

[@thomasboese3793]

For the last 15 years, I've been living a stone's throw from the junction of CN and WSOR in Waukesha, WI. Only one mishap, a person was struck and killed. Personally, I'm in the market for a house/condo now and the number one item on the list of must-haves is a lot line next to a mainline.

[@cpttankerjoe]

I’m definitely still gonna try. However I’m gonna make sure I have plenty of backyard to spare between the house and tracks

[@carrieslantern9224]

I grew up by a two track main line railroad it was cool but scary at times.

[@s0nnyburnett]

Time to move! Stuff like this, the cajon pass, and that other town that got vaporized by runaway oil tankers is the reason I'll never live around tracks as much as I love trains.

[@SarahsAtticOfTreasures]

Thanks for sharing this.

[@CNTrainMan5762]

This wasn't the first time a train derailed due to a vehicle being lodged into a switch. A similar accident happened in January of 2005 in Glendale, CA when a Metrolink train collided with a Jeep Cherokee that was placed on the tracks by a suicidal driver and like what happened here, the vehicle got lodged in the switch sending the train ricocheting into a freight train and another Metrolink train on two other tracks. That crash killed 11 people.

[@denisetindall1487]

I hope everybody is okay and this should keep safe 🌹

[@user-wc8lf5km8k]

Man that was close. I'm glad nobody was hurt.

[@railroadmcdailroad1565]

"I still got propane smells bad in my nostrils." No wonder why he's smoking a cigarette? I mean that's what anyone with propane nostrils should do.

[@bigB6flyer]

I like how he explains about the propane breech with a cigarette waving in his hand. Oh the irony. Glad they were ok

[@az8theist977]

"The propane smell was TERRIBLE!" Hold on, let me light up a smoke......

[@CNTrainMan5762]

This is was the third time a train derailed after colliding with a vehicle placed on the tracks. In 2004 a First Great Western high speed passenger train hit a car at a level crossing with a suicidal driver. The vehicle hit track switches and caused the train to derail. That killed 7 including the person in the car. In 2005, a Metrolink southbound commuter train collided with a vehicle on the Ventera County Line, in Glendale, CA, which was placed on the tracks by Juan Manuel Alvarez. The train pushed the Jeep right into a switch. The Jeep got lodged in the switch, sending the train off the track into a freight train and another Metrolink train which were on two separate tracks. That killed 11 people. Most of them were on the other Metrolink train. It's insane how how that was repeated on the Chicago Line of all places. I'm just glad nobody died.

[@tpark5092]

Yet he's ripping a ciggerete!

[@barrycarlisle4511]

Cigarette

[@markfortin421]

Gonna be a little hard to sleep at night...wondering what might happen next?

[@TECR-gavin]

I think what happend was the NS train was dragging the car and then while that was occurring the switch ahead was set to the straight position so the train could pass through at track speed through the main line and that’s why the train was going a bit fast (even though he applied the brakes IT RAKES A TRAIN HALF A MILE OR MORE TO STOP!!!) and as THAT was happening the car smashed into a switch and just derailed the train, Like in the CSX crash with a truck, It dragged the truck, Vehicle hit a switch, Train derails . Don’t say “HE SAID THAT” I just wanted to put what he said out there

[@dknowles60]

what happan to the drunk lady that drove on the tracks and made the derailment happan

[@DalekPratt1963]

Thank god the Firebird was saved as well! Wouldn't want KITT to be damaged!

[@mrspeeddemon727]

Wow, thank the Lord no one got hurt. That was total destruction of the tracks. Any body know the reason why the lady left her car parked on the tracks?

[@DanielPRails]

Wow. Glad no one was killed. I remember reading about this

[@markbass7145]

Looks like it got hit by an EMP

[@benhudman7911]

The smell of propane is in my nostrils but my cigarette is fine.

[@colinsphoneemail]

Now they have one of those modern container homes

[@daviesmia]

you won't win the Lottery, THIS was your lucky moment!!

[@timothyshepodd7826]

I hope was not smoking while running through the propane cloud!

[@Mike7478F]

Far out. That must have been very scary.

[@bjackson30303]

Mid-80's, I awaken, my wife shaking me, saying, "Listen! Listen!" Me: "It's only a train. Go back to sleep." She: "We don't live anywhere NEAR a railroad!!!" It was a 'nader. It DID sound like a train, though.

[@Realohiorailroadproductions]

Absolutely mind blowing

[@hrstang001]

The propane still in my nose but hey I'm going to light a cigarette

[@natalieb71_]

Wow! They are really lucky that they are okay.

[@csxnstrainman]

Very lucky that broken window on one of their vehicles was the only thing damaged being close to that derailment.

[@froggy8151]

My uncle use to live by tracks trains would blow by his house but no derailments ever happened not even a truck that shifted off the tracks

[@donaldfaris4798]

Good informative video brother thanks!

[@robsan52]

60 mph STRAIGHT TK FOR 67 MILES?!!! Sounds like paradise to me compared to working in the NW.

[@MTGThrownDown]

People describing a train wreck as a tornado. Tornado: Hold my beer

[@tworailproductions]

That's crazy. I like trains, but not that close.

[@Gfysimpletons]

I survive my marriage everyday, biggest train wreck in history! LoL

[@ianisaacs2340]

Amazing that stupidity and a car can do this to a train.

[@Sunglass_Man]

I know this derailment was a really horrible and depressing incident, but I got a joke for this: *orders a product and chooses one day delivery*

[@spyglass1005]

Good thing it wasn’t an oil train.

[@Brianrockrailfan]

liked video glad that was not worse ! 👍😮😱

[@rjohnson1690]

I love the name of your channel! What was the cause of the derailment? Did the vehicle get lodged in the switch points or was it in train forces?

[@jovetj]

The vehicle was stuck on the tracks ( 0:28 ) and the drunk woman that was driving it abandoned it. The train hit it, drug it yards down the track, and all hell broke loose when the lodged truck and train got to the track switches down the way.

[@rjohnson1690]

@@jovetj that makes sense. Thank you

[@fluxthelycanroc9603]

I hope they caught whoever the "person" is who left that car on the tracks

[@louielopez1638]

Watch the video again you'll find out about the person who left the car on the track...SMH 🤦‍♂️ 😂🤣😁

[@maximelesperance4132]

@@louielopez1638 still does not say why or how she did it?

[@AmtrakFlareon]

I wonder if they kept a piece of train car debris to keep this close call a memory.

[@gardensofthegods]

I don't know if they had any choice , but if they did why would anybody choose to live so close to train tracks ; especially freight trains that can carry toxic cargo .

[@kennyirish5021]

That was a mini Duffy st.. Really lucky!!!

[@adammartin7429]

The guy who was talking was holding a cigarette.

[@tamararivera5402]

THEY WERE INCHES AWAY FROM GETTING KILLED

[@jimrockford3662]

Man your a natural, you should be leading WOLD 11 NEWS

[@susanwahl6322]

The railway company is the lucky ones that not one person was killed.

[@dknowles60]

no the Drunk lady driver is the Luck one

[@dindog22]

why did the woman park her car on the tracks?

[@danielribeiro2113]

Because this is America

[@tomthumb8346]

What happened to the woman who parked the car on the tracks? Was her car broke down, or just left there?

[@dknowles60]

left there

[@xxboonisbadfortnitexx1549]

Glad there ok

[@battle604]

(nofolk Southern theme intensifies)

[@vashcrimson4395]

dude talking about propane leaking there while holding a cigarette…

[@EliteAmmunition]

Magic trick, now you see a car, and now you don't.

[@nolanmcleod2619]

Must have been thanking their lucky stars, somehow that propane didn't ignite 🔥🔥🔥🙏🔥🔥🔥

[@cedarvalleyrail8419]

If I woke up with a train in my yard I wouldn't complain!

[@taslimchoudhary1253]

Awesome video. 🌹🌹🇮🇳

[@iwillgiveyouup]

Can someone tell why the train was going 60 through town?

[@csxchicagoline5523]

Unbelievable! All because some idiot got there car stuck on the tracks...

[@sodapop2884]

Wow that’s crazy

[@VincentEllisD]

After seeing that, Tell me guardian angles don't exists. A freight train derails 50 feet from your house and the only damage is a broken window.. yeah someone was looking out for those people.

[@williamflowers7927]

That's why look both ways👍💖

[@WallabyfromBillings]

Oh hell no. Move.

[@carrieslantern9224]

Is or was there a more detailed video that showed part of the clean up ?

[@ianisaacs2340]

I love trains and I like getting close and personal with them, but god damn!!!!!!

[@xxboonisbadfortnitexx1549]

Wow god was looking over them that day

[@H.R.6688]

Wonder if that car was put on Craigslist. Light body damage.

[@michaelskidmore5086]

I just feel bad for those people. They would’ve almost been killed by a container that is in case if it crushed them. DON’T STOP ON THE TRACKS. STOP AND BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR THE TRAIN TO GO BUY. That is my PSA. I’m sick of it. Either wait and be patient or don’t drive at all. I follow all rules and I know how to abide by them. Trains traveling at speed can’t stop in time. They take a full mile to stop. It’s not your fucking life, it’s the other people’s lives your putting them in. The train crew could’ve been hurt.

[@mazterfranky4041]

So what happened to the person whi left the car?.....