Two people were injured and more than 100 gallons of diesel fuel spilled in a collision between a train and vehicle late Friday morning in Oakland, a fire official said.
Firefighters were dispatched at about 11 a.m. following a report of the collision at 50th Avenue and East Eighth Street.
A person was clearing the train tracks of debris with a front loader when the train struck the front loader, Oakland fire spokesman Michael Hunt said. The victim was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.
“There was a big cloud of smoke and ran over there to see if anyone was in it,” said Tom, who heard the crash and quickly sprang into action. “Your first thought is that there is a human being in there and he has a family.”
He said the tractor driver suffered major injuries to his face and legs.
“I tried to reassure him that we had help on the way and to just hold on,” said Tom. “There was diesel all over the place, you could smell the gas.”
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One hundred to 700 gallons of diesel fuel spilled when a tank on the train ruptured, Hunt said. He said the leak has been plugged.
“When crews got done assessing and evaluating, it appears 1 to 700 gallons of diesel had leaked out,” said Hunt. “Since then, the rupture have been closed.”
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Tom said another tractor operator was also on scene and tried to warn his co-worker the train was coming but it was too late.
“One of the other workers said ‘oh, I tried to yell at him to hurry up because the arm was coming down and I told him please hurry, hurry and he just kept going’ the guy said the tractor was just going too slow and couldn’t make it,” said Tom.
An Amtrak mechanical team and hazardous materials teams from Amtrak and the Oakland Fire Department are on the scene.
A second person who was on the train was also injured. It's unclear whether the person was a passenger or a worker on the train, Hunt said.
Rail traffic is stopped in both directions, Hunt said. He said people should avoid 50th Avenue between Coliseum Way and San Leandro Street.
