Two Union Pacific Workers Die after Train Hits Parked Cars near Salton Sea in Calipatria
Calipatria, California (September 8, 2022) – An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of a deadly Union Pacific train accident that happened early Thursday morning in Calipatria.
Two Union Pacific workers died in the crash after the train they were operating crashed into parked freight cars.
According to Union Pacific officials, the accident happened at around 3 a.m. on the tracks next to Highway 111 near Salton Sea.
The freight train was traveling through a desolate stretch of desert when it pulled off the main railroad and onto a siding – an alternate railway typically used for trains to pull over to allow oncoming traffic to pass.
As the train pulled onto the siding, it struck four parked rail cars, derailed the engine and seven of its cars, and ejected both operators.
2 Dead in Union Pacific Train Accident
Emergency personnel from Calipatria pronounced the two adult males dead at the scene.
At the time of the crash, the train was hauling tall shipping containers. The containers remained intact after the accident.
An Amtrak passenger train that arrived in the area a few minutes after the crash was able to slow and halt.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash. They will try to determine why the train pulled onto the siding and why the rail cars were parked there.
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