Train strikes vehicle

PALMER — An Alaska Railroad gravel train struck a truck driven by Robin Bell, 27, of Palmer on the railroad tracks at Inner Springer Loop and the Glenn Highway at around 8 a.m., June 5.

Bell drove across the tracks on Friday as she pulled up behind a vehicle waiting to turn at the stop sign to the Glenn Highway. She attempted to move her vehicle completely off the tracks, but was unable to pull far enough forward, and subsequently hit the rear of her truck as it backed up. No injuries were reported in the collision, and Bell’s vehicle suffered only minor damage, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Alaska Railroad load up their trains at the Palmer gravel pits, and are therefore regularly moving trains around the area of the collision in the morning. In order to be less of an obstruction to traffic, longer trains are often split apart, so that railcars aren’t blocking roadways, according to the Alaska Railroad.

The incident occurred during a loading process, but it could have specifically happened while operators were attempting to reconnect two parts of a train, a railroad spokesman said.