Train smashes truck in rural Fresno County, dragging driver and his dog 200-plus yards

A driver suffered a broken hip in a train collision Friday evening just west of Fresno city limits, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The driver, a man in his 40s, and his dog were in a pickup northbound on Hayes Avenue north of Highway 180 when they crossed railroad tracks and were broadsided by the train, Sgt. Edward Jacobs said.

The 90-car train, which was going 25 mph, hit the driver’s side of the pickup and dragged it 200-plus yards, Jacobs said.

He said witnesses reported hearing the train horn before the crash, but apparently the pickup driver didn’t hear it or see the oncoming train.

There are no crossing arms at the rural intersection of Hayes and the tracks, which are used by the San Joaquin Valley Railroad.

The man was taken to Community Regional Medical Center. Jacobs said drugs or alcohol were not a factor.

The dog didn’t have any injuries but was taken to the SPCA.

This story was originally published June 14, 2019 at 10:49 PM.