Prayers for my familly please!

**Jason** · July 13th, 2005, 07:37 PM

My grandpa, cousin, his two kids and his dads girlfriend were hit by a train today. Everyone is extremly lucky. They all came out with bangs and bruises and the two year old was not scratched. The good Lord certainly was riding in the truck with them today. Please keep them in your prayers.

**Lb_Balla33** · July 13th, 2005, 07:41 PM

Im glad everyone is alright..i will be praying!

**imported_trumpet1988** · July 13th, 2005, 09:15 PM

prayin

**Jason** · July 13th, 2005, 10:33 PM

DANIEL BOONE - A pickup carrying a family across a railway crossing in the Daniel Boone community Wednesday drove into the path of a fast-approaching Norfolk Southern rail engine, resulting in two injuries.

Trooper J.B. Edds of the Virginia State Police said the 1997 Ford F250 truck driven by William Travis Calhoun, 25, of Route 1, Box 252, Gate City, pulled onto the tracks and into the path of the engine operated by Robert Glenn J. Whitt, 56, of Big Stone Gap.

"In talking to the engineer of the train, the truck just popped into his line of sight because of a number of trees and shrubs that are near the crossing that sometimes makes it hard to see,'' said Edds.

"At that point, the truck was too far into the train's path and the driver could not reverse his truck in time. The train then struck the front of the truck, and the impact began to turn the vehicle completely around.

"The truck then went into a ditch line beside of the tracks when the rear of the truck connected with the train. It pushed the vehicle up a hill from the ditch where it came to a stop.''

Edds said the train engineer had already switched from a power brake to a dynamic brake before the impact because the train was starting to travel down a slightly steep portion of track.

The engineer then saw the truck entering the crossing, and he sounded the train's horn and warning bells before the train and truck collided, the trooper said.

Calhoun was reportedly transporting his father, wife and two children from his home to his father's home located across the railroad tracks and a few hundred feet from the crossing when the crash occurred.

James Edward Calhoun, 80, also of Gate City, was taken from the scene complaining of chest and neck pain to a local hospital for treatment along with his son, who was placed on a stretcher after complaining of back discomfort.

William Calhoun's wife and two children were treated for minor cuts and bruises at the scene and were then taken to the hospital as a precaution, according to the trooper.

Edds said because the crash took place on private property and a rail crossing owned by Norfolk Southern Railway, no charges would be filed by the state.

**imported_ut1** · July 13th, 2005, 10:37 PM

I saw enough train/vehicle clashes at Harvey (Dip) Crossing to last me a lifetime. Glad to hear no one was seriously injured. We were ahead of you a little as our church had prayer for them tonight.

**Jason** · July 13th, 2005, 10:50 PM

Tell the church we really thank you all. And thanks to all on this board.

**Ironlung** · July 14th, 2005, 05:29 PM

I'm glad your family is ok hunter. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

In an unrelated story, you don't know what happened about midway to GC and Nickelsville do you? I noticed some paint on the road, flowers on the guardrail and the state police seemed to be doing some investigation work there today.