Railroad reopens day after fatal crash

Less than 23 hours after a train-tractor accident in rural Hardin County killed one man and injured two others, the Union Pacific rail line reopened, continuing its regular service.

"As far as I know, the investigation is finished," said Mark Davis, spokesman for Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha. "We know the driver of the tractor failed to yield to the train."

The accident happened about 1½ miles northeast of Buckeye on Saturday afternoon. Twenty-two of the freight train's 50 cars and two locomotives derailed in the crash.

The train's engineer, Randy Oertwig, 48, of West Des Moines, died in the accident.

Oertwig was a 21-year employee of Union Pacific Railroad.

Richard Merical, 51, of Ankeny, the train's conductor, sustained a severe injury to one of his hands and numerous facial lacerations. Merical was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, where he was listed in fair condition Sunday.

The driver of the tractor, Brian King, 23, of Hampton, was taken to Ellsworth Municipal Hospital in Iowa Falls. Hospital officials would not release King's condition Sunday night.

Iowa State Patrol officials said King's tractor failed to yield to the train as it tried to cross the tracks at the intersection of 180th Street and G Avenue.

The train, which was traveling at 50 mph, struck a manure trailer tank being pulled by the farm tractor about 4:15 p.m. Saturday. The tank went under the first locomotive, lifting the locomotive and causing it to turn 180 degrees, Davis said.

"Once that happened, the train crew were facing the oncoming cars," he said. "There was nothing they could do." Davis said train engineers seldom die from collisions with vehicles.

The track reopened at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Tracks Cleaned Up After Deadly Train Accident

Crews have reopened the tracks damaged during Saturday's deadly train crash in Hardin County. A Union Pacific train ran into a farm tractor near the town of Buckeye. Repair crews spent most of the day Sunday cleaning up the twisted remains of 22 freight cars and two locomotives. Witnesses say the main locomotive struck the manure trailer, flipped, and was then struck by the oncoming freight cars. The train engineer, 48-year-old Randy Oertwig of West Des Moines died in the collision. The conductor, 51-year-old Richard Merical of Ankeny is in fair condition at this time. The tractor driver, 23-year-old Brian King of Hampton, was not severely injured. The Iowa State Patrol and Union Pacific continue to investigate the crash.