Garbage Truck Collides With Train In Western Wisconsin

RUSK COUNTY, WI — Two people were injured Tuesday morning after a train crashed into a garbage truck in northwestern Wisconsin. The Wisconsin State Patrol received a report of a garbage truck colliding with a train on Cranberry Lake Road north of US-8 in Rusk County near Weyerhauser, Wisconsin.

The locomotive was derailed from the track after the 6:38 a.m. collision and has since been placed back on the rails. The garbage truck leaked fuel after the crash.

Authorities say a preliminary investigation indicated the garbage truck failed to yield to the train. The driver of the garbage truck, age 32, of Bruce, Wisconsin suffered serious injuries and was eventually transported to Luther Hospital in Eau Claire for treatment.

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The train’s engineer, age 47, of Ladysmith, Wisconsin was transported to Ladysmith Hospital for treatment, according to a news release. Bother drivers' identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is investigating the crash, which includes a reconstruction and a post crash inspection. The train is operated by Canadian National and the garbage truck is owned by Waste Management.

Images via Wisconsin State Patrol