One dead in train collision near Logan

A Bernalillo man died Thursday after a Union Pacific train struck the tractor-trailer rig he was driving near Logan, according to New Mexico State Police.

QCS photo: Thomas Garcia

Crews work to remove the debris from a fatal collision of a Union Pacific train and tractor-trailer rig Thursday near Logan.

State police said Pres Salazar, no age available, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash reported at 8:54 a.m. The collision happened at Mile Marker 43 on N.M. 469, police said.

"I was driving to work and looked towards the railroad crossing and saw a large cloud of smoke," said Steve Garcia, Logan's landfill manager. The landfill is adjacent to the tracks where the collision took place.

Garcia said the train was slowing and the engine had cleared the crossing though all he could see was the trailer portion of the truck rig.

Officers said Salazar was driving a red 2002 Peterbilt tractor-trailer that had stopped at the crossing, where crossing guards and lights had engaged. Police said Salazar attempted to go through the crossing and for unknown reasons he stopped on the railroad tracks and was struck by the westbound train.

Access to 469 was blocked and trains on the railroad were delayed for five hours as crews worked to clean the debris.