Fire, explosions rock Kingsburg after deadly train crash

KINGSBURG, Calif. (KFSN) -- A man died in Kingsburg after a freight train hit his semi-truck on Thursday, sparking flames and explosions.

The crash happened on the railway tracks in the area of Sierra and Simpson just off Highway 99.

The resulting blast was so intense that parts of the engine went flying feet away and the safety arm that lowers when a train is approaching was blown off.

The driver of the truck did not survive. The train crew was not injured.

A witness, Mickey P, said he saw the semi-truck on the railway track and the train crossing-arms come down on its hood.

Moments later, the train crashed into the truck, sparking flames and an explosion.

"It was instant, just 'boom'... catastrophic!" Mickey P told Action News.

Footage from the scene shows thick black smoke billowing in huge clouds, visible from miles away.

The police department still doesn't know how or why the semi-truck driver didn't get off the tracks before being hit.

Kingsburg PD says a crash like this is unusual in their town.

They are hoping an eyewitness or cell phone video from the moments leading up to the crash will help them figure out why it happened.

On Friday, railroad crews worked to repair the safety arms that were blown off Thursday night.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office says unfortunately, the man killed in this crash was burned so badly that it will take some time to identify him through DNA.