Photos/Story by JIM FINSTAD

The Clear Lake Fire Department Responded to a train - semi tractor trailer accident at the intersection of North 20th and 7th Avenue North on August 1st 2002. Multiple 911 callls to the dispatch center at 11:52AM advised that a train had struck a semi at the grade crossing, causing an explosion and fire.

Upon arrival of the fire department, large amount of black smoke and heavy fire were observed, involving 2 railroad engines of a 75 car train and semi tanker truck. The tangled wreckage of the truck was wrapped around the nose of the scorched locomotive.

The tanker was carrying 7,500 gallons of #2 diesel fuel. It had filled up at Williams Pipeline Co. in Clear Lake just prior to the accident. Each of the locomotives on the train carried 4,000 gallons of fuel. The force of the collision carried the semi approximately 200 feet West along the tracks and onto the 7th Avenue North crossing. The train struck the tanker just behind the cab on the passenger side.

The tanker was driven by Corey Wessels, 22, of Denny Wessels Transport Inc. of Buffalo Center, Iowa. The North 20th Street crossing is equipped with flashing lights but no crossing gate. The lights were operating at the time of the collision. The truck did not stop for the lights. Wessels, was able to exit the burning wreckage through the front windshield after the train came to a stop.

The train crew members, Rusty Bell of Renwick, Iowa, the engineer, and James Brown of Spencer, Iowa. Crawled to safety through the thick black smoke. They had been trained on how to react in a scenario similar to this.

Approximately two-thirds of the diesel in the tanker was either consumed in the fire or spilled onto the ground. The rest of the fuel remains in the tank and will be removed. The tanks on the locomotives did not catch fire. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources was called to investigate the possible environmental impact.

Neither a 4" natural gas line that runs underground below the track nor a 65,000-volt power line running above the track was disturbed by the accident. The natural gas line has a vent pipe that was less than 2' from getting hit by the skidding semi. If the vent would have been hit the 4" gas line would have ruptured. The power line was saved due to the 10-15mph NW wind.

Approximately 100 gallons of class B foam was used to extinguish the fire. Foam was needed from other fire departments as well as manpower.

The Clear Lake Fire Department responded with 2 pumpers, 1 rescue, 1 squad, and a command vehicle. They received mutual aid from the Ventura Fired Department and the Mason City Fire Department. A crew from Williams Brothers Pipeline also assisted at the scene.

Amazingly all three people involved in the accident escaped without injury.