4 veterans killed @ parade by a TRAIN!
 

MIDLAND, Texas – Four veterans were killed and 16 other people were injured when a train slammed into a parade float carrying the returning heroes to a banquet to honor them in West Texas, officials said Friday.

The float carrying wounded veterans and their spouses to a banquet in West Texas took the full force of the train at a railroad crossing Thursday. Some people managed to jump clear as the train, with its horn blasting, bore down on the float decorated with American flags. Horrified spectators at the parade could only watch as the carnage unfolded.

"The train honked its horn, but the 18-wheeler could not go anywhere because of the other one (truck) being right in front of it," said Daniel Quinonez, who was waiting in his vehicle as the parade went by. "It was a horrible accident to watch happen right in front of me. I just saw the people on the semi-truck's trailer panic, and many started to jump off the trailer. But it was too late for many of them."

Sudip Bose, a doctor and front-line physician in Iraq who had been volunteering at the parade, said Friday that the immediate aftermath of the collision reminded him of the war.

"It was a scene of total chaos," Bose said.

"Instincts kicked in. They were applying tourniquets, holding pressure to the wounds." Bose said.

The float was one of two flatbed tractor-trailers carrying veterans and their spouses. Police said the first truck safely crossed the tracks but that the second truck's trailer was still on the crossing as the train approached.

Patricia Howle was waiting in her car at a nearby traffic light as the train approached.

"I just started screaming," she said. "The truck was on the other side of the train, but I did see the panic on the faces of the people and saw some of them jump off."

Late Thursday, Union Pacific spokesman Tom Lange said a preliminary investigation indicated the crossing gate and lights were working. He did not know if the train crew saw the float. The black box from the train will determine its speed at the time of impact.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/16...#ixzz2CPiv77ZV

Ill never for the life of me understand why drivers stop on top of railroad tracks?

Horrible situation.

More fallout from Obamacare. T4 engaged.

Horrible. Prayers for the families.

Tragedy.

But I gotta ask, how can you be on a flatbed trailer, in a place where you can see everything coming for miles, and not have time to jump the **** off and get out of the way?

It was carrying wounded vets and their spouses. It's possible that some of them couldn't get off of the float.

This.

Mom works on carborators.

Worst veterans day parade ever.

Give me freedom or give me death by a train?