May 4, 2018 3 min read

The Ohio truck driver whose rig crashed into a train at a Centerville railroad crossing earlier this year, causing hydrochloric acid to leak from the tanker he was pulling and forcing the evacuation of several people from nearby homes, has been charged by borough police.

Jacob T. Shank, 42, of Deerfield, Ohio, was charged last week by Lt. Daniel Gaso with causing a catastrophe, risking a catastrophe, reckless endangerment, disregarding the signal indicating approach of a train, trucks carrying explosives required to stop before crossing railroad tracks, careless driving and reckless driving. The collision happened March 6 at the Maple Glenn Road railroad crossing at Low Hill Road.

When Gaso arrived at the accident scene, he saw a tractor-trailer and a Norfolk Southern train had collided. Gaso also saw a large, white cloud of vapor. The lieutenant noted in court paperwork his eyes and throat started to become irritated, so he retreated for his own safety. Gaso also confirmed fire departments and Washington County Hazardous Material Team were responding.

A 911 dispatcher told Gaso the tanker was carrying about 4,000 pounds of hydrochloric acid. Various emergency personnel arrived and worked to rescue the truck driver and train personnel. Residents of nearby homes were evacuated.

Shank was flown to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he was treated for broken ribs, a broken sternum, a leg injury, lacerations and abrasions. The occupants of the train were taken by ambulance to Monongahela Valley Hospital. After the scene was deemed safe by the hazmat team, the truck and train were decontaminated. The train was removed later that night. The tanker was placed off to the side for inspection.

Dash camera footage from the train shows it approaching the crossing at 34 mph, below the 40 mph speed limit for trains in that area, and the train’s audible signal was activated prior to it entering the intersection. The truck is seen on the video traveling south on Low Hill, making a left onto Maple Glenn and entering the railroad crossing without stopping. The train engineer activated the emergency stop but was not able to avoid hitting the tractor-trailer. The train pushed the rig several hundred feet before coming to a stop.

Gaso interviewed Shank about a week after the crash at the hospital. Shank told him he was going to Forum Energy Technologies. He reportedly told Gaso he stopped on Low Hill for oncoming traffic before turning onto Maple Glenn. According to police, Shank also said he looked right and left before going across the tracks, telling the lieutenant he did not see any approaching trains. As he drove over the crossing, Shank said he heard the train’s whistle.

The train engineer told Gaso the train was on its way from Newell to Bailey Mine in Graysville. He said he saw the tractor-trailer stopped on Low Hill for traffic before it turned onto Maple Glenn, going over the crossing without stopping. The engineer told Gaso there was no way to stop the train. He and the train conductor were trapped in the train after the crash.

The driver of a vehicle behind the tractor-trailer told Gaso she heard the train’s whistle just prior to the impact. One of the men who assisted in rescuing Shank told Gaso the truck driver said to him, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I screwed up, I screwed up.”

Blood tests done on Shank at the hospital showed he did not have any alcohol or illegal narcotics in his system, according to court documents. Shank will be arraigned on the charges later before District Judge Joshua Kanalis.