Train crash update: Man killed was Norfolk Southern employee

GLADE SPRING, Va. -

Crews from Norfolk Southern were cleaning up the debris and repairing the track where a truck was hit by a train Wednesday.

We are told the identity of the truck driver who was killed will not be released until the autopsy results come back, but Thursday they did start to move what is left of the truck after the crash and fire.

Norfolk Southern trains were back on the tracks only 12 hours after a deadly crash involving a tractor-trailer in Glade Spring, Virginia, Wednesday night.

We learned gallons of fuel leaked onto the tracks after the crash, igniting the truck and killing one of the railway workers. "He had just delivered a dump truck on a low-boy flatbed trailer and he had just dropped it off. He was returning when he was crossing the tracks," said Robin Chapman, PR Manager for Norfolk Southern.

Police tell us the train hit the cab of the truck, knocking it to the left side of the tracks. "Our understanding is the train was traveling one direction, which would be towards Chilhowie. The truck was following parallel in the same direction," said Ricky Stumbo, Glade Spring Interim Police Chief.

Mary Blackwell lives just feet from the tracks and says she is concerned about people's safety, especially because there are currently no crossing arms. "I've seen people try to beat the train coming down through here," said Blackwell.

Residents tell us they would love to see a railroad crossing guard at their railroad crossing in hopes to help improve safety and possibly save a life. "People live up there, people come down the track and they just don't stop. They just go right ahead," said Blackwell.

Town Mayor Lee Coburn tells us they will look into the situation. "It's certainly a concern and something we take very seriously," said Coburn.

We checked the area, and two out of the three railroad crossings in Glade Spring have crossing arms.

We find out that currently the town is paying close to $20,000 dollars a year on these crossing arms to maintain and repair them; the additional arms would be an added cost to the town.

However, Mayor Coburn tells us you cannot put a price on safety.