Officials are investigating after an Amtrak train collided with an 18-wheeler in east Dallas County, killing one person.[[365347131,C]]
The crash happened at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the 4600 block of East Scyene Road in Sunnyvale, very close to the Mesquite city line.
After the rock hauler was struck, it burst into flames. Dallas County Sheriff's officials said the driver of the truck was killed. The Medical Examiner's office has identified the driver as 50-year-old Shannon Thomas of Plano. The truck was headed to APAC Texas, a paving contractor, that sits right next to the railroad tracks.
Deputies confirmed there were 44 passengers and about six employees on board the train. No one was injured. The train originated in San Antonio and was en route to its eventual destination of Chicago. The passengers remained on board after the collision.
Amtrak engineers were called to inspect the train, known as Amtrak #22, The Texas Eagle, before it could continue to Chicago. The train began moving again just before 7 p.m. but stopped shortly after for more mechanical inspections.
The railroad tracks belong to Union Pacific. An engineer was expected to inspect the tracks for damage.
