On June 1st, 2010, the Amtrak Southwest Chief #3 struck a DUI driver driving a Ford F-250 pulling a empty flatbed trailer on NMSR 120 in Wagon Mound, NM. Evidently the driver attempted to beat the crossing arms; however, the arm came down between the truck & trailer. The driver reversed, pulled forward, reversed & pulled forward??? The #3 went into emergency braking about 1/3 of a mile before impact. As the train was about to impact the truck the driver exited his truck in attempt to run away (drunk); however, as the driver neared the drivers side front fender the #3 hit his truck, which then hit him. The driver was thrown over the siding (track) and landed against the opposite side crossing arm (25-30 feet). The driver was transported to a Las Vegas, NM hospital and later air lifted to an Albuquerque, NM Level I trauma center with numerous broken bones (none life threatening) (LUCKY). The #3 was side tracked here in Wagon Mound, NM until 5:00pm. The lead locomotive #9 was placed Out Of Service as the #3 travelled South/West to Las Vegas where a BNSF loco was going to replace the #9 which suffered minor damages.
