Train hits vehicle hauler at Schertz crossing — again
A Union Pacific freight train struck an 18-wheeler hauling two ambulances Feb. 9 at the Schertz Parkway and FM 78 railroad crossing — the second truck-train collision at this intersection in less than six months.
The driver escaped unharmed after calling the emergency number posted on the crossing sign and exiting the cab. About one minute later, the train hit the trailer at 2:27 p.m.
No one was injured. The train did not derail.
Traffic chaos for 48 hours
The collision blocked three major crossings: Schertz Parkway, FM 78, and FM 3009. Crossing barriers remained closed for 24 to 48 hours while repairs were completed.
Dashcam footage of the collision circulated on social media, showing the trailer being pushed down the tracks by the moving train.
Schertz police and Union Pacific are investigating, according to a Schertz Police Department Facebook post.
This keeps happening
This is at least the second major collision at this location in recent months. A car hauler was struck by a train at the same crossing in late 2025.
The Schertz Parkway and FM 78 intersection sits in the middle of a rail corridor that cuts through the city, forcing drivers to cross tracks multiple times to navigate between neighborhoods and commercial areas.
On Feb. 3, the Schertz City Council voted 5-1 to support a grade-separated crossing at FM 3009 — an overpass or underpass that would let traffic pass over or under the tracks instead of crossing them at street level. That project, if approved by the Texas Department of Transportation, would cost tens of millions and take years to complete.
Why trucks keep getting stuck
Large trucks can become stuck on railroad crossings when the trailer's undercarriage bottoms out on the raised tracks, or when a long wheelbase causes the truck to high-center. Once stuck, drivers have only seconds to exit before an approaching train arrives.
Federal law requires railroads to post emergency contact numbers at every crossing. Drivers are instructed to call immediately if their vehicle becomes stuck.
In this case, the driver followed protocol — but one minute wasn't enough time to clear the trailer.
The bigger picture
Schertz has pushed for grade separations for years. The FM 3009 project would be the first to move forward if TxDOT and Union Pacific approve funding and design.
But with three major crossings in the same corridor and a growing number of collisions, the city faces a choice: wait for slow-moving infrastructure projects, or find interim solutions like improved signage, longer warning times, or traffic restrictions for oversized vehicles.
Schertz police reminded drivers to obey railroad crossing signals. "This is a preventable incident," the department said in a Facebook post. .
