The heavily damaged trailer completely blocked Loop 116.
Train Hits Backside of 18 Wheeler on Loop 116, NEW WILLARD, October 29, 2008 - Shortly after 5 pm on October 29, 2008, an 18 wheeler with SAIA Transport out of Houston, and driven by Anthony J. Wiltz, 37, of Houston was just pulling out of United Spectrum off of Loop 116 in New Willard. As Wiltz was pulling over a rail road crossing that runs parallel with Loop 116, he failed to see an oncoming train with Union Pacific Railroad. As Wiltz tried to pull out of the way of the train, he didn't make it completely across and the train hit the back of his 18 wheeler and knocked his rear wheels completely off the trailer and heavily damaged the rear portion of the box trailer. Wiltz was hauling a small load of steel rods. DPS Trooper Brent Henry was dispatched to the scene and was joined a short time later by DPS Trooper David Morris. Loop 116 was completely blocked for nearly 2 hours by the trailer which easily spanned the width of the road. Nobody was injured in the mishap, and heavy duty wreckers were brought in from James Riley Wrecker Service to recover and clean up the mess. A rollback wrecker was used to recover the rear wheels of the semi, and heavy duty recovery vehicle was brought in to haul immobilized transport vehicle. Wiltz will not be issued a citation because the accident occurred on private property. The whole mess took more than 4 hours to clean up.
Rear wheels completely separated from trailer.
Driver Anthony Wiltz of Houston
The train stopped a short way down the tracks.
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