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October 17. 2012 10:20PM

Train and dump truck collide in Wilton

WILTON — A Greenfield man was flown by helicopter to a Massachusetts hospital Wednesday after a train crashed into the truck he was driving.

Police say Lawrence Fox, 48, of Greenfield, suffered serious internal injuries when his 2000 International dump truck owned by Sullivan Paving collided with a single locomotive belonging to Milford-Bennington Railroad.

“Based on the preliminary investigation and witness statements, the railroad crossing signals were activated at the time, and the dump truck went through them,” Wilton Police Chief Brent Hautanen said. “As the truck crossed the tracks, it was struck by the train.”

After the collision, the truck was thrown off the tracks and hit a utility pole.

Hautanen said the operator of the train did not have adequate time to avoid the collision, and blew a horn warning of the train’s presence.

The single locomotive was driven by David Raymond, 49, of Allenstown. He was not injured, according to police.

The crash happened around 7:40 a.m. as Fox’s truck was traveling south on Burns Hill Road and approaching the railroad crossing, police said. The locomotive was traveling north on the tracks entering the Burns Hill Road intersection near Route 101.

“I heard the gong from my office, and I heard the blow horn as the train was entering the crossing,” said Hautanen, explaining the police station is directly next to the railroad intersection.

Fox was transported by helicopter to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Mass. Hautanen had not been updated on Fox’s condition Wednesday evening, but said he did not believe the driver’s injuries were life-threatening.

The accident is still under investigation by police, who are trying to determine why Fox drove through the crossing when the lights and bells were engaged.

There was minor damage to the freight train, which was not towing any cars, the chief said.

“The train hit the truck broadside, striking the body of the dump truck behind the cab,” he said, adding the train was traveling at a slow speed.

Assisting at the scene were the Wilton Fire Department, Wilton Ambulance and members of the New Hampshire State Police Commercial Vehicle Unit.

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Kimberly Houghton may be reached at khoughton@newstote.com.

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