No Injuries Reported After Train Collides With Cement Truck
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Wednesday, November 20th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – (Release from the Baker County Sheriff’s Office) Baker County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a 911 call at approximately 5:56 a.m. on November 19th reporting a collision between a cement truck and train near Ash Grove Cement in Durkee.
BCSO Deputy Ebeling, Oregon State Police and medics responded to the scene. Upon arrival, it was determined that all parties were unharmed and not reporting any injuries.
The operator of the cement truck, identified as Reed H. Kirkeby of Nampa, Idaho, was leaving Ash Grove Cement when the trailer he was pulling experienced an equipment failure, leaving him stranded on the railroad crossing at Shirttail Creek Road. Kirkeby made several attempts to move the trailer off the tracks but was unsuccessful. He exited the vehicle and was in the process of notifying Union Pacific Railroad when the train struck the vehicle.
The train did not experience a derailment but did block the Shirttail Creek Road crossing for several hours.
Baker County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Oregon State Police, Pioneer Ambulance, Baker Rural Fire and Keating Rural Fire.
