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NORTH SALT LAKE — An oil refinery employee helping move rail cars was injured Monday when a tanker truck hauling a pup tank was hit.
About 9:15 a.m., employees of Big West Oil Refinery, 240 W. Center, were moving rail cars into a switching yard, said South David Metro Fire Deputy Chief Jeff Bassett.
As they were doing that maneuver, a refinery employee, who was on the nose of one of the rail cars, noticed a tanker truck hauling a pup crossing the tracks, he said.
"As the train is going north, the employee is on the radio telling the conductor to stop," Bassett said.
The train, however, was unable to stop in time and collided with the pup that was still on the tracks.
"It overturned and took out a power pole," he said. "The pole sheered off."
The employee on the rail car was injured due to the collision.
"He did suffer some serious injuries to his leg and right wrist," Bassett said. "The victim was able to jump off the train. That's when he collapses."
Co-workers rushed to his aid and helped him until medical crews arrived to take him to a local hospital in serious condition.
The truck and the pup were empty. The driver suffered minor injuries.
The rail crossing where the accident occurred does not have any arms or flashing lights, only signs.
Center Street between Main Street and 400 West was closed for several hours while the accident was investigated and crews cleaned it up.
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