An MBTA commuter train collided with a tractor-trailer at a railroad crossing in Canton, Massachusetts, prompting emergency responses and leaving passengers stranded while raising questions about railroad crossing safety.
At a Glance
- A Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter train struck a tractor-trailer at a crossing in Canton on Wednesday at approximately 1:40 p.m.
- The train pushed the truck down the tracks until it became wedged against a fence, forcing the driver to flee before impact
- One train passenger sustained minor injuries requiring hospitalization while the truck driver escaped unharmed
- Train operator Keolis claimed the crossing warning system functioned properly but conflicting witness accounts suggest the truck became trapped when crossing arms descended
- Service on the Stoughton Line was severely disrupted with delays, cancellations, and shuttle bus replacements until normal operations resumed later that evening
Collision Details and Immediate Response
The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon on the Stoughton Line when an MBTA commuter train collided with a semi-truck at a railroad crossing in Canton. According to reports, the train struck the vehicle at approximately 1:40 p.m., pushing it along the tracks until it became wedged against a fence. Canton police promptly responded to the scene, closing Pine Street and posting updates on Facebook with photos of the dramatic aftermath.
Keolis, the company operating the MBTA commuter train, was quick to place responsibility on the truck driver. “There is no issue with this crossing. The driver of the truck stopped on the tracks for unknown reasons. The crossing warning system was functioning as intended,” the company stated in their official response to the incident, deflecting any potential blame from railway operations or equipment failure.
Witness Account Contradicts Official Statement
A witness to the collision provided a starkly different account of what happened in the moments before impact. Adam McCulloch, who observed the incident, described seeing the truck cautiously navigating the small streets of Canton before becoming trapped at the crossing when the warning system activated and the barriers descended, leaving the driver with no escape route for his vehicle.
“[The driver] was driving very cautiously for a huge truck around these parts, these small streets. All of a sudden the truck was going across the tracks and ‘ding, ding, ding!’ the posts came down. He was literally stuck. There was nothing he could do. He had seconds to react, I imagine.” Adam McCulloch told the TV station.
A MBTA commuter train collided with a tractor-trailer Wednesday in Canton, Massachusetts. The truck was left sitting on the tracks unoccupied when it was hit. No serious injuries were reported, however, one train passenger was taken to a hospital to treat minor injuries. pic.twitter.com/e6dAeRAz5g
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 9, 2025
The truck driver reportedly managed to escape from the cab of his vehicle before the train made impact, avoiding what could have been more serious injuries. Meanwhile, one passenger aboard the train sustained minor injuries significant enough to require hospitalization, though the extent of those injuries was not immediately disclosed by authorities.
Service Disruptions and Passenger Impact
The collision caused significant disruption to the MBTA’s Stoughton Line service. At least two trains were stopped due to police activity at the scene, and the transportation authority was forced to cancel at least one scheduled train. Passengers attempting to travel between Canton Junction and South Station were advised to seek alternative trains during the aftermath of the incident.
“There is no issue with this crossing. The driver of the truck stopped on the tracks for unknown reasons. The crossing warning system was functioning as intended.” Keolis told Boston’s WCVB-TV.
To accommodate stranded passengers, the MBTA implemented a shuttle bus service to transport travelers between Canton Center station and Stoughton. Canton police indicated there would be an “unknown timeframe on the reopening” of Pine Street, creating additional traffic complications for local residents. Normal train operations were eventually restored before 10 p.m. Wednesday, allowing commuters to resume their regular travel patterns the following day.
Questions About Railroad Crossing Safety
The incident raises important questions about railroad crossing safety and the challenges faced by large vehicles when navigating crossings in areas with limited space. The contradiction between Keolis’s statement that “the crossing warning system was functioning as intended” and the witness account describing a truck driver who became trapped by descending barriers highlights potential safety concerns that might warrant further investigation by transportation authorities.
This collision serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers at railroad crossings, particularly in communities where large commercial vehicles regularly traverse routes that intersect with active rail lines. As clean-up operations concluded and services returned to normal, residents of Canton and daily commuters were left to reflect on the fortunate outcome of an incident that could have resulted in far more serious consequences.
