ANSELMO, NE- The Custer County Sheriff’s Office has released information about a collision between a semi truck and train southeast of Anselmo last Monday (March 25) in the beginning part of the week’s blizzard conditions.
The report indicates that the accident happened on road 429 off Highway 2 just after 1:00 AM when a Cash-Wa Distributing semi truck with dual trailers driven by James Gillespie of Minden became stuck on the north set of tracks. Gillespie contacted his company dispatch but word was not relayed to BNSF to shut down the track in time. A train headed north on the north rail struck the passenger side of the semi, ejecting Gillespie 15 feet to the south through the driver side door.
The cab of the semi remained lodged to the front of the train until it came to a stop nearly 1,500 feet down the line. The dual trailers and the frame of the semi were left behind on the south rail.
Gillespie was transported by Merna EMS to Melham Hospital in Broken Bow with severe injuries.
Debris was cleared from the tracks by Trumbull Towing and Hunter’s Towing and the scene was clear by 2:43 AM.
