TRAX train crashes into detached train car in Midvale

Transportation • Driver, 2 passengers suffer minor injuries.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale was rear ended by the North bound being overlooked on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale lies crushed after being rear ended by another North bound train train on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale sits on the track after being rear ended by another North bound train train on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale lies crushed after being rear ended by another North bound train train on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale was rear ended by the North bound being overlooked on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale lies crushed after being rear ended by another North bound train train on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale lies crushed after being rear ended by another North bound train train on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale lies crushed after being rear ended by another North bound train train on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale lies crushed after being rear ended by another North bound train train on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision.

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Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale was rear ended by the North bound being overlooked on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale lies crushed after being rear ended by another North bound train train on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale sits on the track after being rear ended by another North bound train train on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale lies crushed after being rear ended by another North bound train train on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale was rear ended by the North bound being overlooked on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale lies crushed after being rear ended by another North bound train train on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale lies crushed after being rear ended by another North bound train train on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale lies crushed after being rear ended by another North bound train train on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A North bound TRAX train who's last car unbuckled and sat still on the track near 8000 South and State Street in Midvale lies crushed after being rear ended by another North bound train train on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2013. The driver of the second train moving up the line a short while later was able to slow down but not avoid the collision.

By Michael McFall The Salt Lake Tribune

· November 6, 2013 9:00 am

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Three people were hurt Tuesday night when a TRAX train hit another train car stranded on the tracks in Midvale.

The rear car of a northbound Blue Line train decoupled and was left stranded on the line near 8100 S. State Street, said Utah Transit Authority spokesman Remi Barron. The next train on the line did not have enough time to stop before crashing into the lone car about 8:45 p.m.

Three people, including the driver of the moving train, were being treated for minor injuries, Barron said. The driver was treated and released at the scene, while the two passengers were taken to a local hospital.

UTA intends to investigate why the car decoupled from the first train, which to Barron's knowledge has never happened on the company's system before. The driver of the first train may not have noticed the loss of the last car, Barron said.

Trains in that area are about 15 minutes apart and generally travel about 40 mph to 45 mph.

Other trains on the line were getting by on the opposite tracks, slowly and one at a time, Barron said.

mmcfall@sltrib.com

Twitter: @mikeypanda