THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 29, 1994 TAG: 9412290415
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBERT LITTLE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
After 34 years working for the railroad, every time Edgar Williams heard a train whistle, he called it music to his ears.
He wishes he had heard the music Wednesday.
Driving across a set of tracks on the way to his son-in-law's junkyard Wednesday morning, Williams' van was struck by a 29-car CSX freight train. The crash smashed Williams' van and sent him to the hospital with cuts and bruises, including a chest-to-abdomen red spot from his seatbelt.
As train wrecks go, the damage to Williams and his car was relatively minor.
But the 59-year-old Chesapeake man said his pride as a longtime railroad man took a beating.
``I'm supposed to know better,'' said Williams, relaxing Wednesday afternoon at his home.
``I've got some guardian angel watching me, and it's a good thing. Because I'm awful stupid.''
And lucky, police said.
The stretch of railroad tracks, which parallels U.S. 58 in eastern Suffolk, has been the site of numerous fatal wrecks. Just over a year ago, a 61-year-old Poquoson man died there after a train dragged his truck a quarter-mile.
The site of Wednesday's accident, like other nearby crossings, is marked with signs but no lights or gates. Still, Williams said, he has traversed the private crossing leading to O'Malley's Used Auto Parts countless times, always looking both ways before heading across.
On Wednesday, he looked left and saw nothing.
He looked right and saw the front end of a 250,000-pound locomotive.
Williams tried throwing the transmission of his van into reverse - but before he could, the train clipped the front end and threw the van into a ditch alongside the tracks. The train, traveling about 30 mph, stopped a quarter-mile down the tracks.
People working nearby said they heard the whistle blow several times. Williams - his van windows up - says he never heard the whistle.
``I'm sure he did everything he could to stop and get me out of the way,'' Williams said. ``But, I know. There isn't much you can do.''
As a Norfolk Southern engineer for 34 years, Williams said he's seen several cars smashed and people killed on the tracks. In fact, he'd been on trains when it happened.
``Sometimes, things can't be avoided. You just put all the brake you've got into it and pray. I understand.''
In other words, he said, no hard feelings.
Williams was released Wednesday afternoon from Obici Hospital after treatment for minor injuries.
``That seatbelt saved my bucket, ain't no doubt about it,'' said Williams, who said the belt dug into his chest so hard it ripped his shirt.
``Normally, I hear the whistles all the time. Hey, that's music to my ears.
``But I sure didn't hear it this time. I wish I had.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by GARY C. KNAPP
``I'm supposed to know better,'' Edgar Williams, 59, said Wednesday
referring to his 34 years of working for the railroad. Williams' van
was struck by a 29-car CSX freight train.
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT TRAIN INJURIES by CNB