On April 16, 2023, about 6:44 p.m. local time, southbound Union Pacific Railroad train GSHFCC 15 crossed a main track switch lined toward yard track C-4 and collided with parked Union Pacific Railroad train RDACO 14 in Chico Yard in Chico, Texas. As a result of the collision, 12 loaded hopper railcars and 2 locomotives from train GSHFCC 15 derailed, and 1 empty gondola railcar and 2 locomotives from train RDACO 14 derailed. Two crewmembers from train GSHFCC 15 were seriously injured.
We determined that the probable cause of the April 16, 2023, collision between Union Pacific Railroad train GSHFCC 15 and Union Pacific Railroad train RDACO 14 was the lining of the C-yard main track switch to yard track, a human error made by the Union Pacific Railroad train RHKPHQ 15 conductor. Contributing to the collision was the inability of the dispatcher and the crew of train GSHFCC 15 to determine the position of the main track switch in non-signaled territory in time to prevent the collision.
