A Union Pacific train hit an 18-wheeler that had stalled on the tracks at the East First Street crossing at Charlotte Street in Fordyce around 9 p.m. Thursday. The two people in the truck got out before the train struck it, and no injuries were reported, according to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and the Fordyce Police Department.
The crossing sits in front of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office on South Charlotte Street. South Ark Daily first reported the crash Thursday night and posted photos provided by Dallas County Sheriff Mike Knoedl. The Pine Bluff Commercial reported new details early Friday from the sheriff.
What officials reported
- How it happened: The truck got stuck while trying to turn across the tracks and was left sitting in the path of the train, Knoedl told the Pine Bluff Commercial.
- Escape: Two people were in the cab. They heard the train’s whistle and climbed out before the impact, the sheriff said.
- Injuries: None reported, the sheriff’s office and police said.
- Fire: The Fordyce Fire Department put out small fires caused by the impact.
- Cargo: The train was not carrying hazardous material, officials said.
- Cleanup: Union Pacific crews stayed at the crossing overnight and into Friday morning to check the damage and investigate, the Pine Bluff Commercial reported.
What is not known yet
Officials have not said how long the crossing will stay blocked, how much damage the train and track took or whether the truck driver will be cited. The driver has not been named, and Union Pacific has not released a statement. iSEARK.com will update this story if Union Pacific or Dallas County officials release more details.
Crossing safety in Dallas County
Union Pacific’s line runs through the center of Fordyce, past the historic Cotton Belt Railroad Depot. Drivers and residents can take a few steps at any crossing in Fordyce, Dallas County or elsewhere in Southeast Arkansas:
- Stalled on the tracks: Get out and move away from the tracks right away, then call 911.
- Report a problem: Call the number on the blue Emergency Notification System sign posted at the crossing. Union Pacific’s emergency line is 1-888-877-7267.
- Large trucks: Make sure there is room to clear the tracks completely before pulling onto a crossing, and avoid turns that leave the trailer across the rails.
Sources: Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and Fordyce Police Department, as reported by South Ark Daily on Oct. 15, 2026, and by the Pine Bluff Commercial on Oct. 16, 2026; Union Pacific.
