Amtrak train hits tractor-trailer in Lakeland, injuring 8, causing up to $10M in damage

LAKELAND — Eight people were injured when an Amtrak train derailed after crashing into a semi-tractor near Lake Parker on Friday evening.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said there were no serious injuries to the 163 passengers and 10 Amtrak staff aboard the Miami-to-New York bound train.

"It is truly a miracle that nobody was seriously hurt in this crash," Judd said in a statement. "A collision between a passenger train and a semi-truck could have been much worse."

Polk County Sheriff's Office, Lakeland police and the Lakeland and Polk fire departments were dispatched to reports of a crash at 7:04 p.m. Friday. The train collided with a semi-tractor pulling a car hauler with seven vehicles shortly after departing from the Lakeland station. It was traveling east on tracks that run parallel to U.S. 92/Memorial Boulevard.

As the train approached Canal Avenue North at about 78 mph, its engineer Ronald Webb of Jacksonville, saw the truck on the tracks and began blowing the horn, according to PCSO crash detectives.

When the crossing's lights and arms activated, the safety arms hit the truck's trailer. The driver, Walberto Carrazana Bermudez of Homestead, and passenger Jose Luis Lahera Vidal of Hialeah jumped from the vehicle.

Upon impact, the train consisting of two engines and eight cars continued to travel east for approximately 200 feet before coming to a stop, according to the Sheriff's Office. The front end of the train derailed from the tracks and a small unspecified amount of diesel fuel leaked from the engine.

There were seven people injured who were transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center for treatment. One person was privately transported to the hospital.

Lakeland City Manager Shawn Sherrouse said the city worked with Amtrak to transport the train's uninjured passengers and crew to the RP Funding Center, despite a packed house because of a sold-out event. The travelers stayed at the center until early Saturday morning, Sherrouse said.

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Amtrak arranged for the train's passengers and crewmembers to be taken to Tampa via bus.

Bermudez was issued a traffic citation for having insufficient clearance at a railroad crossing, according to the Sherriff's Office.

The railroad crossing at U.S. 92 and Canal Avenue North was closed for approximately 10 hours. It's estimated the accident caused between $6 million and $10 million in damages to the train, the tracks, CSX property, cost of cleanup and losses caused by track downtime.

The Sheriff Office's investigation into the crash remains active and ongoing.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Eight people hurt when Amtrak train hits tractor-trailer in Lakeland