Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 26, 1995                   TAG: 9507260051
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TRAIN HITS TRUCK TOTING HALF A HOUSE

The accident happened just outside the gates of North American Housing off Virginia 684 in Boones Mill.

"I'm just thankful no one was hurt," said Lynn Frith, the town's police officer. "It could have been a lot worse."

Frith said three tractor-trailers were leaving the North American plant Tuesday a little after 9 a.m.

The first truck made it across the tracks. The second didn't.

The Norfolk Southern Corp. train - whose engineer sounded two horn blasts to try to warn the truck driver, Frith said - barely missed the truck's cab and barreled into the middle of the house section it was hauling.

"There was nothing left of it," Frith said. "Nothing but debris."

The driver of the truck, James H. Eller of Martinsvillle, said he simply didn't see the train coming, Frith said. He was charged with failure to yield the right of way. There was a stop sign at the crossing.

"It was a follow-the-leader-type thing. When the first truck went, the second started on its way, too," Frith said.

After he crossed the railroad tracks, the driver of the first truck realized the train was coming, but it was too late to warn Eller, Frith said.

The train, which sustained some damage, was held up for about an hour and a half before leaving Boones Mill.

Frith said damage estimates from the accident were not available.