Today’s Punctuality Story

Train Collides With Pickup Truck In Sedalia
Pickup Driver Killed In Collision

June 20, 2008

SEDALIA, Mo. — An Amtrak train collided with a pickup truck Thursday afternoon in Sedalia, killing the driver of the pickup truck. Witnesses said the pickup pulled into the train’s path.

“There was, like, a big jolt. And then we slowed down really fast,” one passenger said.

“I was actually asleep when it went off. I didn’t know what happened. I woke up, and everyone was freaking out,” another passenger said.

The pickup was hit broadside.

“We all looked back, and there was no vehicle behind us. It was still stuck to the front of the train,” Amtrak passenger Darda Jinx told KMBC’s Martin Augustine.

The driver was identified as Steve Hemme, 45. Hemme’s brother told KMBC that he hated to be late for work.

“He was coming back from lunch, and he tried to beat the train. I guess the train got him,” Hemme’s brother said.

An Amtrak spokesman said the train was on its way from St. Louis to Kansas City. More than 100 passengers were on board. No one on the train was hurt.

The train suffered minor damage in the collision.

Amtrak said that after a mechanical inspection, the train continued on and arrived in Kansas City three hours late.


Note the section in red. I guess that day, and every day to come, he’ll be very very late.

And not only to work.

Those of you who drive, watch the signs and lights and gates around railroad tracks. If the lights are flashing, or the gates are coming down, don’t try to beat them, or you too might be very very late.

One Response to “Today’s Punctuality Story”

  1. bigmacbear says:

    Reminds me of a bit of dialogue from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy:

    “…you must come with me now or you will be late.”
    “Late? For what?”
    “What is your name, Earth-man?”
    “Dent. Arthur Dent.”
    “Late, as in the late Dentarthurdent….”