Train and tanker collide in fiery level crossing crash

A train and a tanker truck filled with diesel fuel collided near a chemical plant in Bartow earlier this week.

The truck driver was killed in the accident, according to Polk County Fire Rescue. Three people on board the train are accounted for and are fine. The crash happened just after 10 a.m. off US Highway 60 near Bonnie Mine Road, about a quarter mile west of Ashland Chemical. US 60 was closed for a time, but has reopened.

An eye witness at the accident scene said a fuel truck drove into the path of the freight train, which was pulling 5 cars. The collision caused an explosion and fire which burned for more than three hours, before firefighters were able to use a mixture of water and foam to bring it under control. The thick black smoke from the fire could be seen for miles.

The truck reportedly had a 3,000 gallon capacity, although it's unclear how much fuel was on board at the time of the crash. Railway officials say the train came out of Mulberry and serves local businesses.

Officials say gates are not required at the crossing, since it is located on private property. The train conductor, however, is required to sound two long warnings, one short warning and another long warning when approaching either a public or private crossing.

At this point, investigators are not sure how fast the train was travelling at the time of impact but officials hope to find that out after getting a GPS device located on the train.