If you have ever wondered what it would look like if a freight train crashed into an artillery piece, that’s been answered. O
M109 Paladin was being transported on a low semi truck when the vehicle seemingly got stuck at a railroad crossing in Goose Creek, South Carolina.
A CSX freight train, unable to stop in time, plowed directly into it, sending the Paladin’s turret spinning from the impact. Though the truck and its trailer were smashed in the collision, the M109 Paladin, a 155mm Howitzer self-propelled artillery piece, seemed relatively unscathed.
The M109 Paladin, weighing over 30 tons, was photographed sitting off to the side of the road after the train crash, looking mostly intact. Bystander’s videos posted to social media showed the Paladin’s turret swinging round and round after the train demolished the semi and trailer.
he semi truck’s driver was able to escape before the train hit and no one was injured in the collision, which took place around 12:40 p.m.
The train stopped soon after impact. Local police quickly responded to the crash, the Post and Courier reported, as did several trucks trying to collect debris from the crash. The collision is under investigation.
It’s unclear who the Paladin belongs to. The Paladin has the identifier of A13, although no specific unit is named.
Joint Base Charleston is approximately 10 miles away from Goose Creek. The 18th Field Artillery Brigade, based out of Fort Liberty, told Task & Purpose that it did not have any Paladins in transit at the time. Task & Purpose contacted the Goose Creek Police Department about the incident and who owns the artillery piece and recovered it after the collision but as of press time has not received a response.
