WALDENBURG, AR - Poinsett County authorities and emergency responders were busy in Waldenburg this morning, where a truck and train collided at a rail crossing on Highway 14 just before 8 a.m.
Witnesses tell K8 News a freight train struck a Peterbilt 18-wheeler as it attempted to make its way across the tracks. Some witnesses claim the crossing's rail guards did not activate until the truck was already on the tracks. The driver of the truck was injured and airlifted by helicopter to a Memphis hospital. He has been tentatively identifed as Shawn Benson.
The accident caused a heavy back-up of traffic on U.S. 49, and southbound traffic on 49 was re-routed for a while.
