East Manufacturers Boulevard was impassable for hours Wednesdayevening after a train and an 18-wheeler collided on the tracks andcaused a partial train derailment.

Canadian National Railroad Conductor Dwight Williams said itlooked as though the truck, driven by Charles Darren Feltenbergerof Pineville, La., tried to beat the Illinois Central Engine 1003across the tracks. That was when the train collided with thetrailer of the semi, which was owned by Latexco, a large papercompany out of Alexandria, La.

Brookhaven Police and Fire Departments were both called to thescene, which is in the newly annexed area of town.

“We were called because it’s in the city now and we rolled allthree trucks because we didn’t know what we had,” said BrookhavenFirefighter Kelly Porter. “We didn’t know if anyone was trapped orif there was a hazard of fire.

“Once we found that no one was trapped, we sent the other twotrucks back and stood by while they righted the truck in case anyadditional fire hazards developed.”

Latexco Safety Officer Carl Contrino said the trailer wascarrying compressed cardboard.

Feltenberger’s passenger, Ricky Shelby Hawn, was taken to King’sDaughters Medical Center by ambulance after the impact. KDMCofficials said Hawn was treated and released Wednesday evening.

Officials on the scene said Feltenberger made the statement thathe did not see or hear the train before he crossed the track.

After using wooden wedges and planks to roll the engine back onthe track, Davis Wrecker Service attempted with two tow trucks anda track hoe to right the semi and clear it from the traintracks.

CN spokesman Jim Kvedaras said the train originated in Fergusonand was headed to Jackson.

“It was going through Brookhaven at the crossing ofManufacturers Boulevard at which point the truck driver forwhatever reasons failed to yield to the train,” he said.

Kvedaras said CN employees came in and rerailed the pair ofwheels that were off the track.

“It was relatively minor and although it did inconvenience usfor a bit, it had marginal impact on our operations yesterday,” hesaid.

Part of the problem clearing the truck was that it had come torest on its side up against a telephone pole.

Davis Wrecker employee Nick Bates said the bales of wetcardboard were finally cleared to allow the train to pass. Wreckerservice crews left the scene by 9:30 p.m.

“The wreckage was up and out by 9:30, but the train left earlierthan that,” he said. “We cleared the path for the train to getout.”

Bates said the bales were not completely cleared.

“They’re still out there on the side of the road this morning,”he said. “They’re supposed to be sending a flatbed truck out thereto clear them today.”