DSP News Release:  Troopers Investigate Train Accident

Location: Pigeon Point Road, south of Pyles Lane, Wilmington, DE

Date of Occurrence:  Monday, June 27, 2011 at 1:35 p.m.

Operators/Vehicles:

Operator #1: Selven D. Ellana, 46, New Castle, DE

Vehicle #1: 2000 Freightliner Tractor and 1999 Trailmobile Trailer (Owned by Bestway Transport Company, Plymouth, OH)

Operator #2: John N. Vinyard, 46, Dover, DE

Vehicle #2: GMC GP40-2 Train Engine (Owned by Norfolk Southern Railroad)

Resume:   

Wilmington- The Delaware State Police are currently investigating a crash involving a freight train and a tractor trailer that occurred this afternoon just north of Wilmington.

The incident occurred as Selven D. Ellana was operating a Freightliner Tractor which was pulling an empty box trailer and was traveling northbound on Pigeon Point Road just south of Pyles Lane. As Ellana crossed a set of train tracks that cross Pigeon Point Road, the trailer portion of his vehicle was struck by the engine of a Norfolk Southern freight train that was traveling in a westbound direction and which was being operated by John N. Vinyard, of Dover, DE. The Train was able to stop a short distance from the crash scene.

Neither operator was injured in the crash. There was no derailment of the train. Selven D. Ellana was cited by troopers with Inattentive Driving.

Released Monday, June 27, 2011 at 5:50 p.m.