Six Injured in Train Accident
ESSEX – Tourists saw more than the scenic Connecticut River Valley when the train they were riding hit a 2006 Mack dump truck, near the Deep River border, stranding them for about an hour and a half and causing six injuries.
Sergeant Jonathan Montey, from Connecticut State Police Troop F in Westbrook, said the dump truck was making a right turn onto Dump Road from Route 154 and was crossing the rail track when it was struck by the front side of the train at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Monday, August 14.
Dump Road is home to a regional trash collection facility, a regional household hazardous waste facility, and a town trash site and is adjacent to the Route 9 northbound exit 4 off-ramp and Route 9 northbound on-ramp.
It appeared the truck was trying to beat the train across the track, Montey said, adding railroad crossing lights and audible alarm was working before the collision but there is no railroad crossing gate at this at-grade intersection.
Robert Bell, President of Essex Steam Train, agreed stating, “The truck pulled in front of the train.”
The conductor, Michael Camara, 51, of Warwick, R.I., saw the truck and attempted to stop the train, but it was too late.
The force of the train striking the dump truck pushed the truck causing it to slide to the south and roll onto the passenger side but did not cause the train to derail.
There was damage to the rear dump area of the dump truck on the driver’s side and passenger side damage from the rollover impact, according to police.
Police said the 1926 ALCO Model 2-8-0 train, known as Number 97, experienced minor damage to the coal end of the train.
Witnesses saw a small fire ignite between the cab of the truck and rear garbage storage area and quickly removed the driver through the windshield.
The fire was later extinguished by witnesses with a fire extinguisher.
Police identified the driver as Nicky Resto, 25, of Bridgeport and the truck belonging to John’s Refuse and Recycling of Guilford.
Resto was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital by Essex Volunteer Ambulance for internal injuries and lower back pain while Eric’s Towing came later in the day to tow the vehicle off Dump Road.
Montey said Resto will face charges but was uncertain of what the specific charges would be adding the police are in the process of interviewing Resto and Camara.
Four adults were injured including Dorothy Cohen, 84 of Green Acres, FL experienced an injury to her neck, Dorothy French, 79 from Bell City, OH who received an injury to the knee, Diane Kutsavage-Prescod, 50, Wethersfield, who experienced an injury to her neck.
One child was injured, Reilly Lark, 5, of Sheffield, Ma, experienced an injury to left side of head.
All five who sustained injuries were treated at the scene and refused medical transportation.
According to the Essex Steam Train website, there were about two hundred passengers on the train who were supplied with ice and bottled water by Essex Steam Train Office staff.
Another two hundred passengers were on the Riverboat “Becky Thatcher” and were treated to an extra hour and a half cruise before being bussed back to Essex.
Twenty-five people Gillette Castle hikers were also affected by the delay.
At 3 p.m., the train continued on its journey after accident investigation was complete and all affected passengers were offered complimentary tickets for another date and two passengers asked for refunds.
The Essex Steam Train Mechanical Department worked during the night of August 14 to make repairs to insure the train would be ready to leave Essex on schedule August 15 at 11:00 a.m.
Regarding previous accidents at intersection of Dump Road and the railroad tracks, Bell said, he was unaware of any that occurred here.
“This is a private protected crossing,” Bell said, adding the road goes to the town’s garbage station.
There are three other at-grade railroad crossings without gates throughout the Essex Steam Train route, Bell said, but they are well-lit and inspected almost daily.
Bell said the accident has been reported to the National Transportation Safety Board and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.
The NTSB regards this as only a minor incident, Bell said.
The Essex Steam Train is operated by The Valley Railroad Company and offers rides on vintage rail cars pulled by a steam locomotive along a 12-mile route through the Connecticut River Valley from the Essex station to Deep River Landing.
Almost 150,000 visitors come to ride the rails of Essex Steam Train each year and the accident comes about two weeks after it celebrated its 35th year anniversary.
The Essex Steam Train website states their trains run at a top speed of 20 miles per hour while Amtrak’s website states their Acela train travels at top speeds between 135 and 150 miles per hour.
The railroad track is owned by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and is part of the Valley Railroad State Park.
Sergeant Jonathan Montey, from Connecticut State Police Troop F in Westbrook, said the dump truck was making a right turn onto Dump Road from Route 154 and was crossing the rail track when it was struck by the front side of the train at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Monday, August 14.
Dump Road is home to a regional trash collection facility, a regional household hazardous waste facility, and a town trash site and is adjacent to the Route 9 northbound exit 4 off-ramp and Route 9 northbound on-ramp.
It appeared the truck was trying to beat the train across the track, Montey said, adding railroad crossing lights and audible alarm was working before the collision but there is no railroad crossing gate at this at-grade intersection.
Robert Bell, President of Essex Steam Train, agreed stating, “The truck pulled in front of the train.”
The conductor, Michael Camara, 51, of Warwick, R.I., saw the truck and attempted to stop the train, but it was too late.
The force of the train striking the dump truck pushed the truck causing it to slide to the south and roll onto the passenger side but did not cause the train to derail.
There was damage to the rear dump area of the dump truck on the driver’s side and passenger side damage from the rollover impact, according to police.
Police said the 1926 ALCO Model 2-8-0 train, known as Number 97, experienced minor damage to the coal end of the train.
Witnesses saw a small fire ignite between the cab of the truck and rear garbage storage area and quickly removed the driver through the windshield.
The fire was later extinguished by witnesses with a fire extinguisher.
Police identified the driver as Nicky Resto, 25, of Bridgeport and the truck belonging to John’s Refuse and Recycling of Guilford.
Resto was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital by Essex Volunteer Ambulance for internal injuries and lower back pain while Eric’s Towing came later in the day to tow the vehicle off Dump Road.
Montey said Resto will face charges but was uncertain of what the specific charges would be adding the police are in the process of interviewing Resto and Camara.
Four adults were injured including Dorothy Cohen, 84 of Green Acres, FL experienced an injury to her neck, Dorothy French, 79 from Bell City, OH who received an injury to the knee, Diane Kutsavage-Prescod, 50, Wethersfield, who experienced an injury to her neck.
One child was injured, Reilly Lark, 5, of Sheffield, Ma, experienced an injury to left side of head.
All five who sustained injuries were treated at the scene and refused medical transportation.
According to the Essex Steam Train website, there were about two hundred passengers on the train who were supplied with ice and bottled water by Essex Steam Train Office staff.
Another two hundred passengers were on the Riverboat “Becky Thatcher” and were treated to an extra hour and a half cruise before being bussed back to Essex.
Twenty-five people Gillette Castle hikers were also affected by the delay.
At 3 p.m., the train continued on its journey after accident investigation was complete and all affected passengers were offered complimentary tickets for another date and two passengers asked for refunds.
The Essex Steam Train Mechanical Department worked during the night of August 14 to make repairs to insure the train would be ready to leave Essex on schedule August 15 at 11:00 a.m.
Regarding previous accidents at intersection of Dump Road and the railroad tracks, Bell said, he was unaware of any that occurred here.
“This is a private protected crossing,” Bell said, adding the road goes to the town’s garbage station.
There are three other at-grade railroad crossings without gates throughout the Essex Steam Train route, Bell said, but they are well-lit and inspected almost daily.
Bell said the accident has been reported to the National Transportation Safety Board and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.
The NTSB regards this as only a minor incident, Bell said.
The Essex Steam Train is operated by The Valley Railroad Company and offers rides on vintage rail cars pulled by a steam locomotive along a 12-mile route through the Connecticut River Valley from the Essex station to Deep River Landing.
Almost 150,000 visitors come to ride the rails of Essex Steam Train each year and the accident comes about two weeks after it celebrated its 35th year anniversary.
The Essex Steam Train website states their trains run at a top speed of 20 miles per hour while Amtrak’s website states their Acela train travels at top speeds between 135 and 150 miles per hour.
The railroad track is owned by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and is part of the Valley Railroad State Park.
