SALEM (WSLS 10) - Salem police and fire crews are on the scene of an accident involving a Norfolk Southern train and Salem garbage truck.
The driver of the garbage truck, a man, is now at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with life threatening injuries. The driver's name is still not being released.
The incident happened at the intersection of Apperson Drive and Dillard Drive at 8:50 a.m., according to Norfolk Southern.
Salem police determined that the vehicle was traveling south after exiting a business located near the railroad crossing. As it approached Apperson Drive, the sanitation truck was struck on the passenger side by the eastbound train. Because of the direction of the crash, traffic on Apperson was not diverted at any time.
The eastbound train with two locomotives and 150 loaded coal cars was traveling at 40 mph and sounded the horn when the truck attempted to cross the tracks, according to Norfolk Southern.
The railroad company also said that crossing has flashing lights, which were operating.
Salem city officials tell WSLS 10 the train hit the garbage truck.
The train is currently being moved and the scene is expected to be clear in the next couple of hours, according to city spokesman Mike Stevens.
Stevens said the next step will be for crews to clean up and diesel fuel that may have leaked from the truck.
WSLS 10 will update this story as we get additional information.