Accident Investigation Summary Report HQ-2022-1654
- Federal Railroad Administration
Harmarville, PA
United States
On May 26, 2022, at approximately 3:45 p.m., EDT, a Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NS) freight train collided with a construction dump truck at a private grade crossing in Harmarville, Pennsylvania, on the Conemaugh Subdivision. The dump truck failed to stop at the crossing, resulting in the derailment of 2 locomotives and 17 rail cars, including 8 hazardous materials cars. The derailment caused the release of petroleum distillates and plastic pellets into Guys Run creek, leading to environmental contamination. The accident caused $2,094,785 in damages, with cleanup costs estimated at $2,000,000. The primary cause of the accident was the truck driver's failure to adhere to grade crossing signage.