Four people are dead and 16 others injured — all of them wounded veterans or their spouses — after a parade float in Texas was struck by a train Thursday afternoon. Here’s a look at what went so tragically wrong during the parade intended to honor the nation’s heroes.
[<a href="http://storify.com/DigitalFirst/veterans-killed-injured-when-train-collides-with-t" target="_blank">View the story "Veterans killed, injured when train collides with Texas parade float" on Storify</a>]<br /> <h1>Veterans killed, injured when train collides with Texas parade float</h1> <h2>Four people are dead and 16 others injured — all of them wounded veterans or their spouses — after a parade float in Texas was struck by a train Thursday afternoon. Here’s a look at what went so tragically wrong during the parade intended to honor the nation’s heroes. </h2> <p>Storified by Digital First Media · Fri, Nov 16 2012 06:44:22</p> <div>Denverpost</div> <div><i>A flatbed truck carries wounded veterans and their families during a parade before it was struck by a train Thursday, Nov. 15, in Midland, Texas. </i><i>James Durbin/AP Photo/Reporter-Telegram (</i><i>View a <a href=”http://photos.denverpost.com/2012/11/15/photos-4-dead-17-hurt-when-train-hits-texas-veterans-parade/#18″ class=”">photo gallery from the accident scene</a>)</i></div> <div> <h2><b>Preliminary reports: Parade float stuck on train tracks with nowhere to go<br></b></h2> </div> <div>Two flatbed trucks were part of the <a href=”http://www.showofsupport.org/” class=”">Show of Support’s Hunt for Heroes parade</a>. One truck made it across the train tracks, but the other did not.<br><br>”The train honked its horn, but the 18-wheeler could not go anywhere because of the other one being right in front of it,” <a href=”http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22005698/train-crashes-into-texas-wounded-veterans-parade” class=”">explained witness Daniel Quinonez.</a><br></div> <div>Denverpost</div> <div><i>Parade participants react after a trailer carrying wounded veterans in a parade was struck by a train in Midland, Texas. James Durbin/AP Photo/Reporter-Telegram</i></div> <div> <h2><b>What witnesses saw: Reports of panic, bloodshed</b></h2> </div> <div>”I just saw people going under the train. There was blood. There was blood all over.” — Eservando Wisler, quoted by <a href=”http://abcnews.go.com/US/train-hits-truck-carrying-wounded-veterans-parade-killing/story?id=17735939#.UKYxQ-Oe-BU” class=”">ABC News</a>. <br><br>”I was on the phone, and I just started screaming … I did see the panic on the faces of the people and saw some of them jump off.” — Patricia Howle, quoted by <a href=”http://www.americanhomecomings.com/news/2012/11/16/freight-train-crashes-into-float-carrying-wounded-veterans-in-texas-kills-4/” class=”">The Associated Press</a>. <br><br>In an interview with <a href=”http://www.cbs7kosa.com/news/details.asp?ID=38998″ class=”">KOSA-TV</a>, Howle added: “People on the trailer saw the train coming and they were flying in every direction … I covered my face. I didn’t want to see.”<br><br>”It was a horrible accident to watch happen right in front of me. I just saw the people on the semi-truck’s trailer panic, and many started to jump off the trailer. But it was too late for many of them because the train impacted the trailer so fast.” — Daniel Quinonez, quoted by <a href=”http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22005698/train-crashes-into-texas-wounded-veterans-parade” class=”">The Associated Press</a>.</div> <div>Denverpost</div> <div><i>Emergency responders at the scene of the tragic accident that killed four and wounded 16 others. Tim Fischer/AP Photo/Reporter-Telegram</i></div> <div> <h2><b>Were the train crossing’s warning systems working?</b></h2> </div> <div>According to a Union Pacific train spokesman, preliminary reports indicate that the lights and gates were working at the time of the crash, and that the train sounded a horn, says a report by the <a href=”http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-texas-veteran-parade-wreck-20121115,0,6776468.story” class=”">Los Angeles Times</a>. <br><br>There are conflicting eyewitness reports on the gates, however. <br><br>Amy Parish told <a href=”http://www.cbs7kosa.com/news/details.asp?ID=38998″ class=”">KOSA-TV</a> that she ”didn’t see any lights, hear any bells or see the arm come down.” Another witness, Michael Briggs, said <a href=”http://abcnews.go.com/US/train-hits-truck-carrying-wounded-veterans-parade-killing/story?id=17735939#.UKYxQ-Oe-BU” class=”">told ABC News</a> that “the gates actually hit the first people on the trailer.”</div> <div>Denverpost</div> <div><i>Midland police, fire and sheriffs respond to an accident where a trailer carrying veterans in a parade was struck by a train crossing in Midland, Texas. Tim Fischer/AP Photo/Reporter-Telegram</i></div> <div> <h2><b>Victims: 25 wounded soldiers flew to Texas for special honors</b></h2> </div> <div>Army Sgt. Joshua Michael, 34, was among those killed in the crash. The father of two and native Texan died saving his wife, said his mother-in-law Mary Hefley.<br><br>”He pushed his wife off the float — my daughter,” Hefley was quoted in a report by the <a href=”http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2012-11-15/amarillo-veteran-dies-midland-train-crash” class=”">Amarillo Globe-News</a>.<br><br>Hefley said Michael was one of the two who died at the hospital. Two others <a href=”http://www.americanhomecomings.com/news/2012/11/16/freight-train-crashes-into-float-carrying-wounded-veterans-in-texas-kills-4/” class=”">died at the scene</a> of the accident, according to The Associated Press. <br><br>A hospital spokeswoman told the Los Angeles Times that <a href=”http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-texas-veteran-parade-wreck-20121115,0,6776468.story” class=”">16 people were also injured</a> and one remained in critical condition as of late Thursday night.<br><br>On the trailer that was struck, the city’s police chief said there were 26 people including 12 veterans, 12 of their spouses and two civilian escorts.<br><br>A total of 25 wounded veterans arrived in Midland for the ceremonies on Wednesday.<br><br>”The group of 25 was brought in for a week full of events to show them gratitude for their service,” states a <a href=”http://www.newswest9.com/story/20100768/show-of-support-welcomes-25-wounded-soldiers-to-midland” class=”">NewsWest9 report</a> from Nov. 14. Watch news video coverage of the <a href=”http://www.kwes.com/category/163304/video-landing-page?clipId=&topVideoCatNo=121765&topVideoCatNoB=83259&topVideoCatNoC=182033&topVideoCatNoD=169582&topVideoCatNoE=169586&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=7960585″ class=”">veterans being welcomed to Midland</a>.<br><br>The <a href=”http://www.showofsupport.org/index.php/home/about-us” class=”">Hunt for Heroes event</a> began in 2004 and is held annually, flying in injured veterans and honoring them with a parade, banquet and all-expense paid whitetail deer hunt.<br><br>Parade participants included <a href=”http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-texas-veteran-parade-wreck-20121115,0,6776468.story” class=”">multiple amputees and burn victims</a>, reported the Los Angeles Times.</div> <div> <h2><b>’This may be one of the most tragic events we’ve had in our town’</b></h2> </div> <div>Midland’s mayor and police department spoke with the press on Thursday. <br><br>”It’s obviously a real sad day for Midland, Texas,” said Mayor Wes Perry. “These guys are true American heroes.” </div> <div>Mayor and Midland Police Department Response – 11152012 Fatal Train Incidentcityofmidland</div>
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